HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0664.080 2014-2016 Murashige, Laura
From: Jennifer Milholen <milholen Jennifer@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 9:50 PM
To: Council Testimony `.,
cam. L C-7
Subject: . Strong Support for Bill 140
RE: Strong Support for Bill 140–Relating to Reduction of Polystyrene Food Containers
Hawaii County Hearing on May 3,3:00pm. '9 Ii
,74 ;r
Dear Council Members Poindexter, Chung, Onishi, Ilagan, Paleka Jr.,David,Kanuha,Eoff&Wille, r''' —
As the President of the local nonprofit Styrophobia,I am writing in strong support of Bill 140. We are committed to
reducing the litter and environmental hazards of single-use plastics as a partner of the popular Rise Above Plastics
campaign.
Polystyrene food products are one of the most littered items in our Islands,and at recent cleanups of the Kona Coast on
Sat.,April 16,we removed more than 432 foam pieces in less than two hours. We support Bill 140 because of the health
and environmental threats that affect all of us in Hawaii. Expanded polystyrene(EPS)foam containers are the most toxic
and least recycled form of plastic(less than 1%),yet Hawaii has the highest per capita use in the country.
We embrace a policy of"1,2, C,"meaning products should be recyclable#1  plastics or compostable,which is in
line with the County's Zero-Waste Policy. There are many compostable or non-toxic plastic alternatives that can be
recycled. This bill provides vendors and restaurants enough time to use their remaining inventory and transition to safer
products,which hundreds of restaurants have already done without any problems. Although foam products may be
cheaper to buy,they have a hidden cost that counties and citizens have to pay to clean them up.
Although the FDA approved EPS foam products in 1958,the science since then has shown that these are toxic products.
Here are some top reasons why EPS foam food service products are dangerous and wasteful:
1. EPS foam is a toxic form of plastic made from non-renewable fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals like styrene that
leach out over time, especially in contact with hot,greasy or acidic food.
2. According to the National Institutes of Health(NIH), styrene is a dangerous carcinogen and neurotoxin that can lead to
cancer, lymphoma and leukemia. The EPA says 100%of humans have styrene in their fat tissues.
3. Because EPS foam food service products are more than 90% air,they break apart easily and are often blown onto our
coastal areas and out to sea,where they are listed as one of the top 5 items collected at beach cleanups.
4. EPS foam products never biodegrade but only photo-degrade into smaller micro-plastics. These pieces act like sponges
for toxic chemicals in the ocean and are consumed by marine creatures who mistake them for food.
5. Hawaii has the highest per capita rate of take-out food in the country, and many food containers are made of EPS foam
products whose toxic chemicals threaten the health of humans and the environment.
6. Most of these products are hauled to our overflowing landfills where they never degrade but begin to leach toxic
chemicals like styrene, a known carcinogen.
Along with the facts above,there have been many scientific studies showing the harmful effects of polystyrene foam. That
is why we oppose Bill 240 because similar bills have been used to delay action on reducing the vast amounts of foam
litter. In 2008,the Hawaii Senate passed SR78 SD1 to create a voluntary compliance program to switch from foam
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products to healthier alternatives, but nothing was ever done to move this forward.And in 2014,the Honolulu City
Council passed Resolution 14-175,to study the effects of foam and other single-use products,but the study was never,
done.
The amount of testimony in both resolutions was overwhelmingly in favor of bills to reduce polystyrene food containers.
But those legislative bodies seemed to have been swayed by the exaggerated claims of lobbyists for local foam producers
and distributors.The irony is that these same companies already carry and distribute more eco-friendly recyclable and
compostable products because they know the writing is on the wall. Scientific research and public sentiment have created
a compelling case against their foam products, and more.than 100 cities and counties have already enacted successful
foam bans.
We appreciate that this County Council has been an environmental leader in the state in moving forward policies like the
bill create smoke-free parks and beaches, and we ask you to assert that same leadership on this issue. Because Polystyrene
food service products are toxic to the environment and human health,their use should be reduced and eventually banned.
There are many available and affordable alternatives that are non-toxic,biodegradable and pose no threats to the
environment or human health and will cost the counties less to clean up.
Protecting our land and people should be our top priority,not allowing a few companies to profit from outmoded products
that harm the environment and our wildlife.Mahalo for your time and leadership on this issue and please feel free to
contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Milholen
Styrophobia,
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