HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0854.001 2014-2016 P/EM4C,
Murashige, Laura ', ' ,1
From: Joy Gold <joy@joygoldunlimited.com> x •f1 hg•
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 10:50 AM
2016 MY - ' �J
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Dexter Yamada (dy@kyd-inc.com)
Subject: Bill 204 Testimony, Environmental Mgt Committee, Tuesday May 3, 2016 - 3PM
Attachments: KYD_HI_County_Bil1204_Testimony.pdf
Aloha,
On behalf of Dexter Yamada, President of KYD, Inc. dba: K Yamada Distributors, please see the attached testimony for:
Bill 204,Amends Chapter 20, Article 3 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition,As Amended) By Adding a New
Section Relating to Public Education for Reduction of Polystyrene Foam Disposable Food Service Containers
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"
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If ' KYD, 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
Meeting Agenda
May 3, 2016
3:00 p.m.
BILL 204: "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983(2005 EDITION,AS
AMENDED) BY ADDING A NEW SECTION RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR REDUCTION OF
POLYSTYRENE FOAM DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE CONTAINERS"
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.
Lunch wagon owners and small restaurants choose PS foam foodservice containers over alternative
products because PS foam foodservice ware is the most affordable and functions well with island-
foods that are often gravy based. These small businesses and residents will bear the higher cost of
alternative products as the intent of Bill 240 is to reduce the use of PS foam foodservice ware.
Alternative products are readily available to those who desire to pay 2 or 3 times higher for a product
based on personal preference. KYD, Inc. also distributes alternative products for such customers.
Appreciation is expressed for the public education approach to better manage non-degradable or
non-recyclable solid waste and its impact on the marine environment. However, the narrow focus on
only PS foam containers is not supported. As a Hawaii business and residents, we are concerned
about all inappropriate litter disposal that harm our land and water resources. Nothing should escape
into the ocean. We understand that even compostable products will not degrade quickly in the ocean
because of cool temperatures and low oxygen under water. Similarly, both PS foam and alternative
containers will not degrade in landfills because of the lack of oxygen and heat.
We support a robust public education program to promote an anti-litter message for responsible
disposal of all food service materials. This is a litter management problem that must be addressed
and supported by strong programs for land-fill diversion. Please do not create 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. Thank you for the
opportunity to provide this testimony.
TO Pie( Hawaiian Plantations® 019 1RECIPES®
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WILL CALL,G&A,AND WAREHOUSE OFFICES:2949 Koapaka Street,Honolulu,Hawaii 96819-1923 Phone:(808)1 836-3221 Fax:(808)833-8995