HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.197 2010-2012NO) -08 -2011 13:51 From:
ABC STORES
766 Pohukaina Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 -5391
www.abcstores.com
To:808 9b1 8912 P.1 "2 Illr
Telephone: (808) 591
Fax: (808) 591 -2039
E -mail: mai(C��Hboor
November 7, 2011
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Council Member Dominic Yagong, Chairperson and Presidit]
Council Member Pete Hoffman, Vice Chair
County Council
County of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii
HEARING: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 5:00 pm
Off cer
RE: Bill 17, Draft 2, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, Hawaii County C s f 83 (2005
Edition, as Amended) 121 Adding a New Article Relating to Plastic Ba Reduction.
Chair Yagong, Vice Chair Pilago and Council Members:
ABC Stores is a local retail chain with stores located Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Ei
Island, we have five locations; 4 stores in Kona and 1 store in Waikoloa.
ABC Stores is in opposition to this proposal that prohibits businesses from provi
bags to their customers.
Hawaii's retailers unquestionably support initiatives to preserve and protect our ent
solution to the plastic bag issue is neither a total ban nor questionable substitutes. ,4
management of this resource, i,e., the "reduce, reuse and recycle" principle We
broadest use of reusable tote bags as the ultimate solution. However, we do kilo,
acceptance and use of these bags will not be universal or practical at all times Nc°
garden and hardware, drycleaners, apparel stores and restaurants provide plastic
sizes that are the most appropriate and effective bags for their products.
Retailers are In the business of providing goods to consumers and must provide a
to transport their purchases out of the store. Businesses in both Maui County and
have banned plastic checkout bags, have switched to paper bags, which have 1 -,:j
negative environmental implications
Paper bags are up to ten times more expensive than plastic, in actual purchase pr
shipping costs to Hawaii. For every one truck that delivers plastic bags, SQVefl tru
deliver the same number of paper bags; this volume measure is critical for oct.n
be passed on to the consumer.
Please note these comments:
From the Maui News, 10/14/10:
"Pukalani Superette general manager Jerry Masaki said paper bags whl
in a variety of sizes, are expected to cost his business an extra $1 000 a ; >nth.
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From the Honolulu $tar- Advertiser, 1/16/11:
"'Paper bags are more expensive. It's three or four times more (than pies
manager of Sueoka Store on Kauai."
Travel Resort Retail
se d Rod Sueoka,
Comm. No
Ref. To:
Ref: Date _l(ly 1 5 20if
NO)- J8 -2 011 13:51 From:
To : 808 961 8912
Additionally, there are serious environmental impacts of air and water pollution and preen
emissions with the proposed alternatives. From the ULS Report (http:/ /use - less -sty. ff com,
paper bags generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic ags.
The PLASTIC BAGS provided to consumers at point of sale are RECYCLABLE. OL eta
encourage recycling by provide bins at stores and shipping the collected plastic bags to th
recycling.
The PLASTIC BAGS provided to consumers at point of sale are REUSABLE. Const
grocery bags for a multitude of tasks: cleaning up after pets, lining waste baskets,
other items when traveling. Not having these bags provided by retailers, consumers
purchasing plastic bags. This will not necessarily reduce the amount of plastic in the
We respectfully submit for your consideration the establishment of a collaborative g
to work with the Department of Environmental Management to develop reasonable. 7
effective regulation. Our mutual goals are to maximize the usage of reusable bags. -1
to consumers for their personal, practical uses, and to recycle the excess bags, w,tr
our residents.
Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to comment on this meaJ
Sincerely,
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KIRK NA MURA
Store Manager, island Gourmet
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