HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0944.034 2014-2016 Murashige, Laura
From: Georjean Adams <georjean@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 12:09 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony Re Resolution 565
Attachments: G L Adams Testimony Resolution 565.docx
Attached is written testimony for tomorrow's (Aug. 17, 2016) Council meeting regarding
Resolution 565-16 Draft 2 A Resolution to Establish a Hawaii Island Packaging Sustainability
Initiative (HIPSI) Stakeholders Task Force
Georjean Adams
808-885-2230
Comm. No. ` qq,3q
Ref. To:
Ref. Date AUb 2 4 2616
Testimony in support of Resolution 565-16 Draft 2 A Resolution to Establish a
Hawaii Island Packaging Sustainability Initiative (HIPSI) Stakeholders Task
Force.
As a resident of Hawaii County and a former product stewardship consultant, I
submit this testimony in support of Resolution 565-16 Draft 2 A Resolution to
Establish a Hawaii Island Packaging Sustainability Initiative (HIPSI) Stakeholders
Task Force.
I am in support of Hawaii County's Zero Waste goals and Integrated Resources/Solid
Waste Management Plan. I believe this task force could make good progress in
identifying sustainable packaging solutions for our island- if its scope is well-
defined. Ostensibly, the charter of this task force is titled a"packaging" initiative,
however the body of the resolution seems to include "environmental friendly"
product as well as packaging. It's not clear to what degree sustainable products are
to be a topic for the task force. It may be more practical to focus on packaging waste,
rather than product composition or product waste per se, except as packaging may
result in increased/decreased product waste or recycled packaging materials can be
used to make products.
I support the inclusion of issues of product safety and economic impact in reviewing
options, as these are critical components of sustainability.
Separately, there has been comment to explicitly include several references to the
elimination of polystyrene foam food service packaging (Comment 944.14 Wille).
Options for dealing with this type of packaging, along with other packaging
materials,would naturally be included within the scope of the current resolution
and no additional amendments are needed.
With regard to the composition of the task group: I recommend inclusion on the task
force of Council member Margaret Wille as a major stakeholder. While the task
force needs to be well-balanced in its viewpoints and expertise, I would caution
against making the group too large to be efficient.
I hope the task force will be enabled to make practical and sustainable packaging
waste recommendations for Hawaii Island.
ern 00 /
Georjean L Adams August 16, 2016
68-1050 Mauna Lani Point Dr,Apt 1106
Kamuela, HI 96743