HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1146.004 2014-2016 PIEMC.
COW. 114
Murashige, Laura
From: laurenzirbel@gmail.com on behalf of Lauren Suzanne Zirbel
<laurenzirbel@hawaiifood.com>
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2016 10:24 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: HFIA Testimony
Attachments: HFIA TESTIMONY RES 709-16.docx; HFIA TESTIMONY RES 708-16.docx
Aloha, Please find attached HFIA's testimony for the Nov. 1st EMC agenda. Mahalo, Lauren
Lauren Zirbel
Executive Director az lir
Hawaii Food Industry Association
1050 Bishop Street, PMB 235 Honolulu, HI 96813-3302
Direct Line: 808-294-9968 -'`
Office Line: (808) 792-7271 - Ext 1 s. .
Fax: (808) 791-0702 WW
www.hawaiifood.com �„ 5z'1'"'
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o Executive Officers:
�° p °: John Erickson,Young's Market Company—Chair
• Beau Oshiro,C&S Wholesale—Vice Chair
ko. , � Toby Taniguchi,KTA Superstores—Secretary/Treasurer
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�. a ° �°s ° John Schilf,Rainbow Sales and Marketing-Advisor
I`8° e y Stan Brown,Acosta—Advisor
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Paul Kosasa,ABC Stores—Advisor
ar �' HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION Barry Taniguchi,KTA Superstores—Advisor
Derek Kurisu,KTA Superstores—Immediate Past Chair
Lauren Zirbel,Executive Director
1050 Bishop St. PMB 235
Honolulu,HI 96813
Fax:808-791-0702
Telephone:808-533-1292
http://www.hawaiifood.com
November 1, 2016
Dear Chair Dennis Onishi and members of the Committee on Environmental
Management:
RE: Statement in Opposition to Resolution 708-16 Draft 01, to encourage
manufacturing of packaging on Hawai'i Island that is aligned with the integrated
resource solid waste management plan and zero waste policies.
HFIA, a member of HIPSIS, opposes Resolution 708-16 Draft 01, and
respectfully request that the Committee to not pass this resolution.
We feel that this resolution misrepresents what was agreed to during the task
force meeting. The business members voted against this resolution. From the
beginning we opposed bans and taxes. The business members of the task force
made a public statement to the council prior to the last meeting that we opposed
bans and fees. This resolution is misleading in the way that it lays out goals of
the solid waste plan. We feel this resolution sets a dangerous precedent for taxes
on food and bans that were will cause extreme hardship for families living
paycheck to paycheck trying to feed their children.
This resolution states it is . . . a coordinated effort with regional cooperation, to
support state and national efforts to adopt:
• Extended producer responsibility (food tax)
• Deposit programs (food and beverage tax)
• Funding of zero waste initiatives through statewide or regional landfill
surcharges and product charges (food and beverage tax)
We do not support those goals because they would hurt low-income individuals.
When 50% of residents are living paycheck to paycheck it is not morally right to
impose a tax on food, which is the most regressive form of taxation.
As stated by our fellow taskforce member, Steve Ueda, this resolution does not
pass muster:
1. The resolution is inaccurate. The vote for this solution was not unanimous.
At the third session of the HIPSIS task force, the vote on this solution was
taken in three rounds. I voted against this solution in all three rounds.
2. The resolution is ambiguous. It is not clear what is meant to "encourage"
manufacturing. Would it by through property tax reductions, zoning
changes, or skipping steps in the permitting process?
3. The resolution is misleading. The resolution references section 4.5.11 of
the IRSWMP. Section 4.5.11 is a sub-section of section 4.5 "Options for
Improvement". So 4.5.11 is a discussion of options, not recommendations.
The "Recommendations" of the plan are contained in section 4.6 of the
IRSWMP. I think that options need to be distinguished from
recommendations, as the two may not be the same.
4. This resolution is unnecessary. If it is profitable to manufacture a
product on Hawai'i Island, no "encouragement" is needed. There
would be a demand for foodservice packaging that is manufactured
here. If someone thinks it will be profitable to manufacture packaging
here, then they will try.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.