HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0664.100 2014-2016 Murashige, Laura
From: Lotus Cafe <thelotuscafe@gmail.com> r�
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 7:37 AM
To: Council Testimony t "'
Subject: Bill 140 w,
As the owner of lotus cafe, I stand in support of bill 140. w "'
We have been open for 9 years and have used compostable containers solely for that entire time. tjd —
My background and training has been as a cost accountant and auditor and I have been a small business owner
in the agriculture sector here in Hawaii since the 1970's.
It is obvious to me that currently,the public is subsidizing the food industry by taking their non compostable
containers off their hands and assuming the full responsibility for disposal of these
products. Styrofoam products are petrochemical in origin and contain many toxic substances that eventually
find their way into the environment. Better the county ban Styrofoam than endorse and assume responsibility
for these toxic substances.
I have heard from many of our clients at lotus cafe and our food truck that they appreciate our using cimpistable
containers. We charge A small fee on take out orders at the cafe to cover the cist of compostable containers and
have never heard a single customer gripe about a dollar or less that us added to their bill. In fact, I am
confident that we have gained many customers because of our near zero waste policy, our 100% reliance on PV
power for all our electricity, our use of local ingredients and our reliance on the many other green technologies
available to our industry.
N summary, let me affirm. Again that while the costs have been very minor and the benefits have far
outweighed the costs.
The county needs to pas this bill now and move its thinking into the 21 st century and embrace green
alternatives actively through legislation and not just give them lip service.
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Ref, Toa
Ref. Date. MAY 0 `1 O tR
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