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PICOUNCM
Murashige, Laura
From: Tanaka, Lance [Lance.Tanaka @tsocorp.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:53 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: LATE TESTIMONY in opposition to Bill No. 17, Draft 2
Attachments: Testimony_Hawaii County Council_Bill No. 17_11.15.2011.pdf
The attached is for the Hawaii County Council's consideration re Bill No. 17, Draft 2 re amending
Chapter 14, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) by adding a new article relating to
plastic bag reduction.
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Government & Public Affairs
Tesoro Hawaii Corporation
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TESORO
Tesoro Hawaii Corporation
91-325 Komohana Street
Kapolei. Hawaii 1713
308 547-3113
November 15, 2011
TO: The Honorable Dominic Yagong, Chair
The Honorable Pete Hoffmann,Vice Chair
and Members of the Hawaii County Council
SUBJECT: Bill 17, Draft 2—Amends Chapter 14, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005
Edition, as amended) by adding a new article relating to plastic bag reduction
Hearing of the Hawaii County Council
Kona Public Hearing
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Dear Chair Yagong,Vice Chair Hoffmann and Council members:
Thank you for this opportunity to present written testimony on Bill 17, Draft 2. I am
Lance Tanaka,government and public affairs manager for Tesoro Hawaii. Tesoro operates 2Go®
convenience stores at Tesoro gasoline stations on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.
Tesoro Hawaii is opposed to the outright banning of plastic bags as stated in Bill 17,
Draft 2, but would be supportive of legislation that provides consumers with a choice.
While we appreciate the Council's diligent efforts to regulate the use of plastic bags in
complying with policies set forth in the Hawaii County General Plan, Environmental Quality
Element 4.3, mounting evidence suggests that modifying consumer behavior through a fee-for-
use system would help to reduce the number of plastic bags while being more environmentally
sound.
We would note that evidence does not support the use of paper bags in place of plastic
bags as an environmentally friendly alternative.That is because the process of producing paper
bags creates 70% more air pollutants and 50 times more water pollutants than during the
production of plastic bags.Additionally, paper bags are six to eight times more voluminous than
plastic when storing,while shipping costs are just as high. Further, plastic bags consume less
than 4%of the water needed to produce paper bags,and are far less expensive than paper bags
in cost per case and in shipping.
A solution that is better-aligned with the County's environmental quality policies is to
impose a fee per paper or plastic bag,which research shows can induce consumers into
switching to reusable bags as a money-saving incentive, and reduce the use of single-use
disposable bags over the long term.
Lance N.Tanaka on behalf of Tesoro Hawaii Corporation
Written testimony in opposition to Bill 17, Draft 2
Hearing of the Hawaii County Council
Kona Public Hearing
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Page 2
Tesoro Hawaii urges the Hawaii County Council to consider alternatives before imposing
a ban on plastic bags,which would only serve to constrain consumers. On behalf of Tesoro
Hawaii, I thank the Hawaii County Council for its tireless efforts and for allowing me to submit
written testimony.
Sincerely,
' r
Lance N.Tanaka
Manager,Government& Public Affairs
Tesoro Hawaii Corporation