HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0664.086 2014-2016 Murashige, Laura
From: Doorae Shin <doorae@kokuahawaiifoundation.org> ,...
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 9:58 PM �. CD
To: Council Testimony
Subject: In full support of Bill 140
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Aloha Council members, ,
My name is Doorae Shin and I am the Waste Reduction Coordinator for the Kokua Hawaii w= ;
Foundation as well as an alumnus of Sustainability Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
am writing in wholehearted support of Bill 140 to ban "styrofoam" from foodservice on the Big Island
and in opposition to Bill 240. Please note this testimony was submitted in February, and I am re-
submitting in time for your 5/3 meeting.
When I moved here 5 years ago, I fell in love with the islands. I was in absolute awe at the beauty of
this place —the mountains, the ocean, all of nature here was and still is breathtaking to me. The
culture of aloha and malama 'aina is something that resonated with me profoundly at that young age.
When I began to attend the University of Hawaii, I noticed the immense volume of plastic and
styrofoam being used everywhere I looked. I wanted to do something to protect the environment that I
fell in love with.
As the student activist who organized a campaign to ban EPS foam ("Styrofoam") from the UH
Manoa, I wanted to share the story of UH's foam ban. After just 3 months of getting thousands of
student signatures in support of a styrofoam ban as well as facilitating meetings with all stakeholders
on the campus, we wrote andpassed a policyfor a full ban on food-related EPS foam in April of
p
2012. (you can find a 3 minute video about this foam ban here)
As the flagship campus of the State of Hawaii serving nearly 20,000 students and thousands more
faculty & staff, there was no hesitation to make this large institution foam-free. Now, all sporting
events are free of styrofoam, and previously heavy foam distributors such as Jamba Juice and Panda
Express have all found viable alternatives to foam without obstacles. In fact, corporations including
Jamba Juice and Dunkin Donuts are switching away from foam in all locations (not just in Hawai'i) in
favor of eco-friendly alternatives.
From the production all the way to the consumption, EPS foam is harmful to our natural environment
and our health. In production, foam is made from petroleum and processed in chemical labs. When
used for foodservice, foam is used for just minutes before being thrown "away". As foam is made of
93-98% air, it is lightweight and breaks into smaller pieces easily, making it a common item to fly out
of trash cans and into the natural environment while also making foam easier for animals to mistake
as food than other forms of waste and plastic. On our islands, foam cannot be recycled, and even if
foam was accepted for recycling, food-soiled foam would be too contaminated for recycling.
The bottom line is that this foam foodservice products are 100% unnecessary. The reason foam was
produced and used beginning in the 1940's, was because of its ability to insulate. Today, there are
myriad alternatives for insulating food with no need for foam — dozens of companies are providing
alternatives that are 100% compostable, paper, recyclable, etc. It is clear that foam is not only
unnecessary but it is in fact harmful. I.,tA� 07.
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1 Ref. Date Ar 0 3 2016
The EPA since 1992 has released studies and have concluded the detrimental health effects of
styrene, a major component in "Styrofoam" products. Short-term exposure causes eye irritation,
gastrointestinal effects and long-term exposure in humans results in effects on the central nervous
system (loss of hearing, central nervous system dysfunction, headache, fatigue, weakness,
depression, etc). One study showed an increased rate of spontaneous abortions and decreased rates
of births in pregnant women. Styrene is confirmed to be an animal carcinogen and is classified as a
suspected human carcinogen. These are just some of the warnings heeded by the EPA.
From the employees working in foam-production facilities to the restaurants and consumers using
EPS foam on a regular basis, it is simply not worth the risk for Hawaii to maintain our status as the
highest per capita users of EPS foam. Our "plate lunch" culture does not depend upon styrofoam.
Dozens of companies sell "plate lunch" sized containers that do not pose the negative effects on our
environment and human health that foam does.
Our oceans, our land, our wildlife,. and our people deserve better, and making the switch has never
been easier. I submit this testimony to not only represent my perspective but also to give a voice to
the countless animals that are affected by our choices as human beings and remain voiceless as we
continue to affect their ability to thrive and even survive in their natural environment. Our actions as a
species has been devastating to our marine wildlife, especially when it comes to our production and
consumption of plastic. It is our kuleana to be the solutions to the problems we are causing,
especially when these problems have so many victims outside of ourselves.
On all of the major Hawaiian islands, there are dozens of small, local restaurants voluntarily going
foam-free for so many of the reasons mentioned above. With these small businesses as examples,
we now know that switching to foam alternatives is not only possible, but it is in fact easy to do. We
will not be the first to ban foam and we certainly will not be the last. I urge you to support Bill 140 to
protect the local community from the public health concerns that styrofoam poses and to preserve the
beauty and culture of these islands I fell in love with 5 years ago.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.
doorae@kokuahawaiifoundation.orq (or by phone: 808-492-3954)
Mahalo nui loa,
Doorae Shin
Doorae Shin
Waste Reduction Coordinator
Kokua Hawaii Foundation
PO Box 866, Hale`iwa, HI 96712
(808) 492-3954 (mobile)
doorae@kokuahawaiifoundation.org
www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org
Are you a member?www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org/membership
Become a volunteer: volunteer@kokuahawaiifoundation.org
"The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."- Socrates
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