HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0664.168 2014-2016 • •s F a,... I
�..} I '•-. W -�it
Murashige, Laura `
From: dean otsuki <dolive2surf@yahoo.com>
2016 P Q
Sent: Thursday,June 02, 2016 11:04 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: in support of Bill 140 draft 2
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF Bill 140 draft 2
Relating to reduction of polystyrene foam "styrofoam" food containers and food service ware .
Hawai'i County Council Meeting on Friday 3`d June,2016 at 9AM,Hilo, HI.
Aloha Hawaii County Council members,
I am writing in support of Bill 140 draft 2 which would ban polystyrene disposable food and food service ware in Hawaii
County.
Polystyrene disposable food containers and food service ware are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily
polluting resource.
Polystyrene disposable food and drink containers leach the chemical styrene when they come into contact with hot food or
drink, alcohol, oils and acidic foods causing human contamination and pose a health risk to people.
Reasons to ban polystyrene disposable food and drink service containers:
• By 1986, styrene was found in 100 percent of all samples of human fat tissue taken as part of a U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)Human Tissue Survey
• In 2011,the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program listed styrene as
"reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."
• Many studies have documented the migration of styrene from polystyrene containers and cups into food and
drinks.
• When polystyrene disposable food and drink service foam containers travel down waterways and storm drains
into the ocean, it breaks down into smaller pieces that are ingested by marine life and other wildlife thus harming
or killing them.
• In one Californian study, at least 162 marine species including most seabirds were reported to have eaten plastics
and other marine litter. Polystyrene foam releases chemicals when it gets wet that contaminates water that
touches it thus contaminating the water supply.
• The cost difference between polystyrene food service containers and compostable packaging in Hawaii varies
between 10 and 25 cents per container which very minimal compared to the damage caused to the environment.
1 'Comm No. Le44%k
Ref. To: _.
ti
`' nate_. ‘! �_ l
• The City of San Francisco has had over 4500 businesses come into compliance with its ban and has achieved 100
percent compliance. San Francisco has not needed to issue any financial hardship waivers as allowed by the
ordinance,with only two businesses who requested a waiver.
• As market demand increases for alternatives to polystyrene,prices for compostable products are likely to decrease
even further. More demand means creating more green jobs.
• Polystyrene foam is very difficult to bale because it breaks easily and is very lightweight.
• Only a handful of companies are known for recycling polystyrene and none of them accept food contaminated
containers.
• All the attempts at recycling polystyrene food containers at different locations in the U.S. have failed including
Los Angeles County(CA), San Jose(CA), and New York City.
Please pass Bill 140 draft 2 to protect people's health and the environment of Hawaii County. Thank you for this
opportunity to provide written testimony.
Aloha,
Dean Otsuki
P.O. Box 25284
Honolulu,HI 96825
2