HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.227 2010-2012 Pa e 1 of 1
CCUITY CLERK
Murashige, Laura ^01T-1 �� I' °t", 1, iL 17, DR,2.
From: Victor Morris [hurricane98 @hawaiiantel.net] fiEC AM 8: 16
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Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:57 PM
To: Hawaii County Council Testimony
Subject: Bag bill...Please vote NO
Aloha Council Members,
I am wtiting in opposition to Mr. Hoffmann's plastic bag bill. He has brought this issue up every year, wasting
precious time that could be spent on more meaningful matters.
Plastic bags themselves are not a problem. If there is any problem it comes from the minority of people that
misuse them. We don't ban driving because some people break the speed limit. Instead we ticket speeders. We
have anti littering ordinances that can be enforced if someone improperly disposes of a plastic bag.
The are many benefits for allowing plastic bags to be free in the markets. Many people reuse them for a wide
variety of uses including storage. Responsible pet owners use them to clean up after their pets. Plastic is cheaper
than paper and that saves trees. In turn there is less carbon dioxide to cause global warming.
The canvas recycling bags often harbor dangerous bacteria. This is especially true if they are used to carry meat.
Unless one washes the bags frequently (wasting water), there is a risk of getting samonella or E-coli diseases.
I promote freedom of choice. One should be able to choose the type of shopping bag used or no bags at all. I
oppose a nanny style government that intrudes when not needed into our personal lives.
The proposed bag bill will increase the cost of shopping. Aren't people having enough trouble paying sky high
Hawaii food prices?
If Mr. Hoffmann is truly concerned about the amount of plastic in our landfills, he should consider requiring
biodegradable plastic bags. These only last a year or two before becoming soil.
In closing I want to thank Pete Hoffmann for many fine years of service to his council district. He has done a fine
job overall. But I have always disagreed on the bag bills he sponsdrs.
I urge all the remaining council members to vote no when the bag bill comes up for a vote.
Mahalo,
Victor Morris
Waikoloa Village voter and home owner
Comm. N . `_' 21.7
Ref. To:
Ref. Date DE 2 1 2011
12/12/2011