HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0664.140 2014-2016 Phe 14101,L
COVIA. 004-
Murashige, Laura
From: Douglas McCauley <douglas.mccauley@ucsb.edu>
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2016 1:25 PM
To: Council Testimony; Kanuha, Dru; Poindexter, Valerie; Chung, Aaron; Onishi, Dennis;
Ilagan, Greggor; Paleka, Daniel; David, Maile;Wille, Margaret; Eoff, Karen
Cc: Mayor's internet email; Henry, Sharron; Leithead-Todd, Bobby Jean
Subject: Bill 140 Support Fund, 6/03/2016
Attachments: Bill 140 fund letter_03JUN16.pdf a
c)
June 3, 2016 ` "`
Council Chair Dru Mamo Kanuha
and Members of the Hawai`i County Council 9. ._
25 Aupuni Street Q;
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Bill 140, relating to reduction of polystyrene foam food containers and food service ware
Dear Chair Kanuha and Council Members,
This letter represents a joint statement on behalf of Surfrider Foundation's Hawai`i Chapters, Hawai`i Wildlife
Fund, Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, Kokua Hawai`i Foundation, and a coalition of marine biologists
that are based or do research in Hawai`i. It also echoes the sentiment of multiple other Big Island community
organizations and citizens who feel that the passage of Bill 140 and a transition away from EPS plastic
represents a truly positive step forward for the Big Island's environmental and ocean health, the sustainability of
our tourism and business industries, and the legacy of environmental stewardship we as a community continue
to build through policies like our County Zero Waste Management Plan.
We understand that there are concerns from restaurants and vendors in the food industry about what this
transition could mean for their businesses. These businesses are part of our island community. Their owners are
our neighbors.Their businesses are where we go to feed our families. We appreciate their concerns and want a
transition away from EPS to be as seamless as possible for them. In this spirit of community effort, we would
like to offer the County an opportunity to engage in a public-private partnership to launch a campaign to
successfully and smoothly transition Big Island businesses away from EPS.
If Bill 140 passes Surfrider Foundation's Hawai`i Chapters and Hawaii Wildlife Fund are prepared to
contribute at least$15,000 to the County and volunteer hours of our groups' time. The Johnson Ohana
Charitable Foundation and Kokua Hawai`i Foundation have committed to aiding in a County outreach and
educational campaign. The fund and volunteer hours we are committing are made, in part, based on estimates
from outreach efforts that have successfully been used to transition away from EPS in Washington DC and
other cities. Activities supported through this partnership commitment could include a Department of
Environmental Management employee going door to door educating businesses about the transition, mailing
informational sheets to food vendors, or a hotline for support on how to find vendors for non-EPS alternatives.
The Big Island Council has shown some superb leadership across our state, and in fact across the world, in
finding innovative solutions to complex issues and we hope you consider this offer of artnership as a
Comm. No. tptiti,lqo
Ref. To: Q
Ref. Date JUN 0 3 2016
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synergistic opportunity for Hawai`i's environment and businesses to step forward together.
Sincerely,
Surfrider Foundation Hawai`i Chapters
Hawai`i Wildlife Fund
Dr. Douglas McCauley—UC Santa Barbara
Support in education and outreach,
Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation
Kokua Hawai`i Foundation
2
June 3, 2016
Council Chair Dru Mamo Kanuha
and Members of the Hawai`i County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Bill 140, relating to reduction of polystyrene foam food containers and food service
ware.
Dear Chair Kanuha and Council Members,
This letter represents a joint statement on behalf of Surfrider Foundation's Hawai`i
Chapters, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, Kokua Hawai`i
Foundation, and a coalition of marine biologists that are based or do research in Hawai`i.
It also echoes the sentiment of multiple other Big Island community organizations and
citizens who feel that the passage of Bill 140 and a transition away from EPS plastic
represents a truly positive step forward for the Big Island's environmental and ocean
health, the sustainability of our tourism and business industries, and the legacy of
environmental stewardship we as a community continue to build through policies like our
County Zero Waste Management Plan.
We understand that there are concerns from restaurants and vendors in the food industry
about what this transition could mean for their businesses. These businesses are part of
our island community. Their owners are our neighbors. Their businesses are where we go
to feed our families. We appreciate their concerns and want a transition away from EPS
to be as seamless as possible for them. In this spirit of community effort, we would like
to offer the County an opportunity to engage in a public-private partnership to launch a
campaign to successfully and smoothly transition Big Island businesses away from EPS.
If Bill 140 passes Surfrider Foundation's Hawaii Chapters and Hawai`i Wildlife Fund
are prepared to contribute at least$15,000 to the County and volunteer hours of our
groups' time. The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation and Kokua Hawai`i Foundation
have committed to aiding in a County outreach and educational campaign. The fund and
volunteer hours we are committing are made, in part, based on estimates from outreach
efforts that have successfully been used to transition away from EPS in Washington DC
and other cities. Activities supported through this partnership commitment could include
a Department of Environmental Management employee going door to door educating
businesses about the transition, mailing informational sheets to food vendors, or a hotline
for support on how to find vendors for non-EPS alternatives.
The Big Island Council has shown some superb leadership across our state, and in fact
across the world, in finding innovative solutions to complex issues and we hope you
consider this offer of partnership as a synergistic opportunity for Hawai`i's environment
and businesses to step forward together.
Sincerely,
Surfrider Foundation Hawai`i Chapters
Hawai`i Wildlife Fund
Dr. Douglas McCauley—UC Santa Barbara
Support in education and outreach,
Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation
Kokua Hawai`i Foundation