HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.200 2010-2012Council Member Dominic Yagong, Chairperson and Presiding Officer
Council Member K. Angel Pilago, Vice Chair
County Council
County of Hawaii, Hilo, HI
HEARING Tuesday, November 15, 2011
5:00 pm
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RE: Bill 17, Draft 2 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, Hawaii County Cods 1983 (2005 Edition, as z-_- OC)
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Chair Yagong, Vice Chair Hoffman and Council Members: CO ;D..‹
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RMH respectfully stands in opposition to this proposal that prohibits businesses from providing plastic cheaput
bags to their customers.
Amended) a Adding a New Article Relating to Plastic Bag Reduction.
Retail Merchants of Hawaii (RMH) is a not - for - profit trade organization representing 200 members and over 2,a0
storefronts, and is committed to support the retail industry and business in general in Hawaii.
Hawaii's retailers unquestionably support initiatives to preserve and protect our environment. The solution to the
plastic bag issue is neither a total ban nor questionable substitutes, but the wise management of this resource, i.e.,
the "reduce, reuse and recycle" principle. We absolutely support the broadest use of reusable tote bags as the
ultimate solution. However, we do know that consumers' acceptance and use of these bags will not be universal or
practical at all times. Non - grocery retailers: garden and hardware, drycleaners, apparel stores and restaurants provide
plastic carry bags of various 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 vehicle for customers to transport
their purchases out of the store. Businesses in both Maui County and Kauai County which have banned plastic
checkout bags, have switched to paper bags, which have higher cost and serious negative environmental implications
Paper bags are up to ten times more expensive than plastic, in actual purchase price and in increased shipping costs
to Hawaii. For every one truck that delivers plastic bags, seven trucks are needed to deliver the same number of
paper bags; this volume measure is critical for ocean freight. These costs will 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, which must be kept on hand in a variety
of sizes, are expected to cost his business an extra $1, 000 a month."
From the Honolulu Star - Advertiser, 1/16/11:
"'Paper bags are more expensive. It's three or four times more (than plastic),' said Rod Sueoka, manager of
Sueoka Store on Kauai."
Additionally, there are serious environmental impacts of air and water pollution and green house gas emissions with
the proposed alternatives. From the ULS Report (http:/ /use - less - stuff.com /research.htm ): paper bags generate 70%
more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.
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The PLASTIC BAGS provided to consumers at point of sale are RECYCLABLE. Our retailers already encourage
recycling by provide bins at stores and shipping the collected plastic bags to the mainland for recycling.
The PLASTIC BAGS provided to consumers at point of sale are REUSABLE. Consumers reuse plastic grocery
bags for a multitude of tasks: cleaning up after pets, lining waste baskets, packing shoes and other items when
traveling. Not having these bags provided by retailers, consumers will resort to purchasing plastic bags. This will not
necessarily reduce the amount of plastic in the environment.
We respectfully submit for your consideration the establishment of a collaborative group of stakeholders to work with
the Department of Environmental Management to develop reasonable, manageable and effective regulation. Our
mutual goals are to maximize the usage of reusable bags, to provide plastic bags to consumers for their
personal, practical uses, and to recycle the excess bags, without over - burdening our residents.
Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to comment on this measure.
Carol Pregill, President
RETAIL MERCHANTS OF HAWAII
1240 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 215, Honolulu, HI 96814
ph: 808 -592 -4200 / fax: 808 - 592 -4202