HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0664.097 2014-2016 p/pitc,
Murashige, Laura i ild la" , i
From: Joy Gold <joy@joygoldunlimited.com> 2016 lig -..; Ali 11: 33
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 10:45 AM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Dexter Yamada (dy@kyd-inc.com)
Subject: Bill 140 Testimony, Enviromental Mgt Committee,Tuesday May 3, 2016 - 3PM
Attachments: KYD_HI_CountyBiII140_Testimony.pdf
Aloha,
On behalf of Dexter Yamada, President of KYD, Inc.dba: K Yamada Distributors, please see the attached testimony for:
Bill 140,Amends Chapter 20,of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition,As Amended) By Adding a New Article
Relating to the Reduction of Polystyrene Foam "Styrofoam" Food Containers and Food Service Ware
Environmental Management Committee Hearing
Tuesday, May 3, 2016—3 PM
W. Hawaii Civic Center, Building A
Please call me on my cell phone if there are any questions about the testimony submittal.
Thank you,
Joy Gold
Joy Gold Unlimited
1136 Union Mall, Ste.403
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Ph: 808-526-3770 Cell: 808-368-1146
www.joygoldunlimited.com
"Working with you to achieve your organization's mission and public policy goals"
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:This e-mail message,including any attachments,is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s)and may
contain confidential and privileged information.Any unauthorized review, use,disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not
the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
nm: No4
Ref. Tot �M,G
Ref. Dat® 0 3 Z016
1
IP ' INKYD, Inc. dba k, yamada distributors
An independent leader m packaging and wholesale distribution
P.O.BOX 29669,Honolulu,Hawaii 96820 Phone: (808)836-3221 Fax:(808)833-8995
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
County Council of Hawaii
May 3, 2016-3:00 p.m.
BILL 140: "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION,AS
AMENDED) BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO REDUCTION OF POLYSTYRENE FOAM "STYROFOAM"
FOOD CONTAINERS AND FOOD SERVICE WARE"
Position: Oppose
Chair Onishi, Vice Chair Wille and Members of the Committee on Environmental Management:
I am Dexter Yamada, President of KYD Inc, doing business as K Yamada Distributors. Our company is a
locally founded, family run business in Kalihi. KYD, Inc. began in the 1940's as a florist and a supplier of florist
supplies. In 1958 we evolved into the packaging company we are today and later expanded into a distributor
of many other fine products. KYD, Inc and its sister company, Hawaii Foam Products, LLC provide jobs to
about 90— 100 men and women and contribute much to Hawaii's economy in the form of payroll and taxes.
A major portion of our business is the production and distribution of the packaging materials all of us see and
use every day, such as food-grade expanded polystyrene (PS foam) food containers. We supply these
containers to food processers, food establishments, supermarkets, hotels, hospitals, and other major
institutions.
As a Hawaii business and residents, we are concerned about all inappropriate litter disposal that harm our land
and water resources. This is a litter management problem that must be addressed and supported by strong
programs for land-fill diversion. Please do not create a mandated preference for compostable and other
alternative food service products to address a litter management problem. This will only change the type of
litter in the land-fill, road-side and water ways.
We strongly oppose this proposed measure that calls for the ban of food-grade, FDA approved PS foam food
containers. This locally manufactured product supports Hawaii's move toward self-sufficiency because of:
1. Product replacement of imported goods: 1 container load of 40,000 pounds of resin beads locally
produces 9 containers of finished product.
2. Reduced carbon foot print of shipping container loads to Hawaii
3. Local manufacturing, of which cost savings have been shared with customers
4. PS foam food containers are made of 92% air and on Oahu, contributes to the waste to energy
conversion process at H-Power at one of the highest burn rates of 18 BTU
- PS foam food containers and products may have value for some of the Hawaii Island landfill
diversion solutions:
- Green waste collection sites and composters that handle food and contaminated paper; and
- BioEnergy Hawaii and Ulupono's resource recyclable recovery site, which intends to produce
recyclable materials, fertilizer and fuel.
It's been said that compostable products are a better alternative but a closer look at the raw materials needed,
water and electrical use, shipping costs, and need for a local commercial/industrial composting facility may
indicate otherwise. Compostable product cost comparisons with PS foam products vary, but are clearly higher,
sometimes 2—3 times higher.
The proposed ban on food-grade PS foam food containers unnecessarily contributes to Hawaii's difficult
business environment. We support the right of business and consumers to choose FDA-approved products
they desire and willingness to pay for such products based on their personal beliefs and lifestyle.
We respectfully request that this measure be held in committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this
testimony.
OLD REctrEs®
�ropiCC Hawaiian Plantations® BOw"I`,T.,.�r...ers.
WILL CALL,G&A,AND WAREHOUSE OFFICES:2949 Koapaka Street,Honolulu,Hawaii 96819-1923 Phone:(808)836-3221 Fax:(808)833-8995