HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0107.007 2016-2018 P/E141C_
Murashige, Laura FER 2 1 21)17
From: russell@islandnaturals.com on behalf of Russell Ruderman
<russell@russellruderman.com>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 11:10 AM
To: Council Testimony; Ohara, Eileen COUNTY CLERK
Subject: Testimony in support of Bill 13 COUNTY OF HAWAII
Attachments: Support bill 13.doc Time I =10 �RECEIVED
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Date ;:; ., • 1.
In support of Bill 13
2/17/2017
Aloha Councilmembers,
I testify in support of Bill 13, limiting polystyrene use on our island.
I am state senator for Puna and Ka'u, but today I testify as a private citizen and Big Island business owner.
In my business, Island Naturals, we eliminated single-use Styrofoam products over 15 years ago. It was the
right thing to do because we care about our environment and our customers' health. Since that time the prices of
such products have reduced significantly, as has the range of options. We have had only good experiences with
the alternatives that we use, including compostable products made from food starch, and other materials.
Customer feedback is excellent, and the cost differential is minimal. There has never been an increase in our
prices resulting from using environmentally safe products.
I will leave the discussion of health concerns to others. I trust as educated, thinking people you do not need to
be lectured on the environmental costs of polystyrene. But since I have extensive experience in the business side
of things, I will address the cost concerns that have been raised as a false argument against doing what's pono.
Some say it will drive up the price of food. This is just as false as the statements in years passed about plastic
bags. While the cost of some safer alternative products is higher, that is not true for all the options. Even for the.
most elegant and costly alternatives, this is a negligible increase. Testimony has been offered to this council last
year, and I assume again this year, that retailers must increase prices if we pass this. It is not true. While the cost
of a container may be 5-10 cents more, this is still only a small percentage of the price of the meal. Even if the
full increase werepassed alongto customers, the increase would be about 10 cents, or 1 -2 %.
donna No:
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Ref. To: Irk Ems'
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In fact, the increases every business faces yearly such as rent,payroll, taxes, food costs, and overhead are far,
far greater. So the price of food is not materially affected by the choice of container. I know this from real life,
experience, not from conjecture or estimation.
I was the 2015 SBA State Businessperson of the Year for having grown my business to over 200 employees
from a modest start 18 years ago. I don't consider myself an expert on many subjects, but regarding the business
of selling food, I feel qualified to speak.
I compare this discussion to the plastic bag reduction bill several years ago. At that time all the same arguments
were made as to why we could not do this here. "It's too expensive, it will harm business, local folks will never
learn new habits, and it will harm sellers of the banned products. In reality, none of these were true. We learned
to do without single use plastic bags, no businesses failed, either in retail or distributors, local folks did indeed
learn new habits, we saved precious landfill space, we protected our environment, and the sky did not fall.
As a business that had already dropped plastic bags, I was in a position to confirm that these arguments against
the ban were false. I helped convince some councilmembers that it was the right thing to do. Today our island is
cleaner, and our shores are healthier as a result.
Four years ago I watched as the state backed down from a polystyrene ban, largely in deference to a distributor
of polystyrene which testified it would cost jobs. The same company today asks you to defer action for the same
reasons. The question must be asked why such businesses are not preparing for a shift to safer alternatives,
given the worldwide movement against polystyrene. Those that have not begun to plan for this change are being
irresponsible to their business interests. This change cannot be avoided. It's a matter of when, not if.
As with plastic bags, unfortunately it falls to the counties to take the lead. Our state legislature is regretfully too
timid to pass this ban statewide. But that highlights the important role and exciting opportunity you have here
today. Just as with the plastic bag ban, the counties moved first. The willingness of some counties, including
ours, to proceed emboldened the other counties to follow. Today we have a virtual statewide ban on single use
plastic bags, due to the courage and vision of the Hawaii County Council. Today you can once again be a leader
in protecting our environment and pono action.
Polystyrene, aka `Styrofoam,' is the worst plastic pollutant in everyday use today. It is the most damaging to the
environment in its manufacture and disposal. (I will leave aside for now the health hazards it presents to
consumers, which are significant.) It is entirely unnecessary,just as single use plastic bags were. There are
affordable, safe, attractive alternatives to every polystyrene product.
While I am unable to attend today's hearing due to my legislative session in Honolulu, I am happy to answer
any questions.
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Please pass Bill 13. You will forever be proud of doing the right thing to protect our island and our health.
Mahalo,
Russell E Ruderman
President, Island Naturals Markets
17-415 Ipuaiwaha St. Keaau HI 96749
808-443-1703
russell@islandnaturals.com
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