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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0107.037 2016-2018 Murashige, Laura From: Joy Gold <joy@joygoldunlimited.com> COUNTY CLERK , Lr i Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 3:43 PM COUNTY OIVEDAI I To: Council Testimony Time jc�:. oL By Subject: Bill 13, Committee on Env Mgmt Hearing,Tues Feb 21 Date tti3 2 2 SOI! Attachments: KYD_Feb21_2017_Bill13_Testimony.pdf Aloha, On behalf of Dexter Yamada, President of KYD, Inc. dba: K Yamada Distributors, please accept the attached testimony for: Bill 13,Amends Chapter 20, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition As Amended) by Adding a New Article Relating to Reduction of Polystyrene Foam "Styrofoam" Food Containers and Food Service Ware Committee on Environmental Management Hearing Tues Feb 21-1:30 pm Kona Please call me at 808-368-1146 if there are any questions about the testimony submittal. Thank you, Joy Gold ******************************************* Joy Gold Unlimited 1136 Union Mall, Ste. 403 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone: 808-526-3770 Mobile: 808-368-1146 Email: joyAoygoldunlimited.com www.joygoldunlimited.com "Working with you to achieve your organization's mission and public policy goals" CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:This e-mail message,including any attachments,is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s)and may contain confidential and privileged information.Any unauthorized review, use,disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. Comm. No. (b1 'l Ref. Ref. Dat AR 0 8 MT 1 IP ' KYD, Inc. dba k. yamada distributors An independent leader in packaging and wholesale distribution P.O. BOX 29669, Honolulu, Hawaii 96820 Phone: (808)836-3221 Fax: (808)833-8995 Hawaii Island Committee on Environmental Management February 21, 2017 BILL 13: "Amends Chapter 20, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, As Amended), By Adding . a New Article Relating to Reduction of Polystyrene Foam "Styrofoam" Food Containers and Food Service Ware" Position: Oppose, Amendment Offered Testimony By: Dexter Yamada,Joy Gold Chair O'Hara, and Members of the Environmental Management Committee: Dexter Yamada is President of KYD Inc, doing business as K Yamada Distributors. Joy Gold is a consultant to Dexter Yamada and KYD, Inc a locally founded, family run business in Kalihi since the 1940's as a florist and a supplier of florist supplies. In 1958 KYD evolved into the packaging company of today and later expanded into a distributor of many other fine products. KYD, Inc and its sister company, Hawaii Foam Products, LLC produces and distributes many of the packaging materials all of us see and use every day, such as food-grade expanded polystyrene (PS foam) food containers. We supply these containers to food processers,food establishments, supermarkets,hotels, hospitals, and other major institutions. We stand by the safety,functionality and affordability of PS Foam and our employees. Correction of Misinformation: Bill 13 is similar to Bill 140draft2 that was heard by the past Environmental Management Committee and Full Council, in which Dr. George Cruzan, noted toxicologist, addressed the safety of polystyrene products and distinction from styrene, which is a natural element found in foods such as cinnamon, strawberries, etc. Additional facts are provided in the attachment. Bill 13 discriminates against a FDA approved product that has superior insulating qualities for hot and cold foods and is economical to food operators, county programs such as Meals on Wheels and senior meal programs, and community events like the Merrie Monarch Festival. Ocean and Land Debris It discriminates against a product that represents less than 1% of the total municipal solid waste (EPS MSW Characterization Report, 2013). A ban that singles out food-grade EPS food containers does little to reduce litter or ocean debris harmful to marine life and the environment. A local, Big Island marine biologist said that 26-89% of the island's ocean debris is land-based sources: straws,wrappers, insulation, shipping containers, hot coffee cups, meat trays, saimin containers. EPS foam containers was about 1%of the debris. Similarly, the International Coastal Cleanup identifies the most common debris are plastic cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, and plastic straws and drink stirrers. Plastics can enter into the ocean through ineffective or improper waste management, intentional or accidental dumping and Hawaiian Plantations® i RECIPES 'The Tush of Puradlrr fjWILL CALL,G&A,AND WAREHOUSE OFFICES:2949 Koapaka Street,Honolulu,Hawaii 96819-1923 Phone:(808)836-3221 Fax:(808)833-8995 KYD, Inc. dba k. yamada distributors MAVIS An independent leader in packaging and wholesale distribution P.O. BOX 29669, Honolulu, Hawaii 96820 Phone: (808)836-3221 Fax: (808)833-8995 littering on shorelines or at sea, or through storm water runoff. (Trash Talk: Marine Debris and Plastics, NOAA, Sept. 17, 2015) Much is said about EPS foam containers killing marine life and the albatross. Yet,the photo below shows no foam but many cigarette lighters, bottle caps and other debris. So what's killing the albatross? Stomach contents show a lot of cigarette lighters, bottle caps and other debris. It's not EPS foam containers. Z L a & Lx .3 r to , 4 ,r V".: g, 4 � g, �^ea.• :.. •E yah• �� ' Sg� �}' ;, z+� - -' 4s:'- z� s a3. 401C- - 41, ''''''''''''' '''''''t':,i OP ''' ' 'v.:''':;:''' l''‘''' jet' '. 4'''''44PC' ' ` t ,y;. '/b d w• L 8 �gcctLL, a , V '''' {, yy 7 gg lt..;.. 2 ti:44 'ab e, 9 C Y1k ' •gid tootti," t i.!,' '''.. lir* ,-, .. s 8 sW r i s sa '.1)-• ''; i s k I' -,,,,,,,, -. :',,, s :,,,,t,i : ,, i„A, „ygiritra ..:!-.........„.„,. .1- ilik, ..„ 4+ of , 44ii -g 1a ,,fii4,,, 4111 1 Bill 13 is based on removing PS foam containers from the waste stream to provide maximum diversion of compostable foodware to be available as compost to farmers and the community, and to be effective in tandem with the County's full-scale compost program, effective July 1, 2018. As recent as February 5th,the Hawaii Tribune Herald reports that Mayor Kim, while supporting diversion of organic waste from Hawaii County's landfills, is considering terminating the $10.3 million composting facility. In addition, BioEnergy Hawaii LLC's WTE facility in West Hawaii, which is privately funded, will build a waste separation, anaerobic digestion facility to produce methane and other gases, as well as soil amendments and fertilizer. We anticipate that both compostable and PS foam containers will be a welcomed feedstock to BioEnergy Hawaii. http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/kim-looks-cancel-compost-contract Since the fate of the County full-scale compost facility is in flux and BioEnergy Hawaii LLC is closer to becoming a reality, we offer the following amendment: Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect{upon approval.) after 1 year of successful operations of the County's food-waste composting facility. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. 110Pie( Hawaiian Plantations HA The TWO ofParewthe W WILL CALL,G&A,AND WAREHOUSE OFFICES:2949 Koapaka Street,Honolulu,Hawaii 96819-1923 Phone:(808)836-3221 Fax:(808)833-8995 J IP ' KYD, Inc. dba k. yamada distributors An independent leader in packaging and wholesale distribution P.O. BOX 29669, Honolulu, Hawaii 96820 Phone: (808)836-3221 Fax: (808)833-8995 INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD-GRADE EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE DISPOSABLE PRODUCTS • FDA Determines Polystyrene Is Safe for Use in Food Contact Since 1958 The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strictly regulates all food packaging materials including polystyrene—from which components can reasonably be expected to migrate into food. For every food contact material,there must be sufficient scientific information to demonstrate that the use of the material is safe. - Following manufacture of polystyrene,tiny amounts of styrene may remain in the polymer. So FDA evaluates the safety of the food contact material itself(polystyrene) and the safety of substances that can migrate into foods and beverages (styrene). The result of this evaluation is that FDA has approved polystyrene as safe for use in contact with food for decades. - In 2013,the American Chemistry Council's Plastics Foodservice Packaging Group provided updated styrene migration data to FDA. http://plasticfoodservicefacts.com/Safety-of-Styrene-Based-Polymers- for-Food-Contact The data show that current exposures to styrene from the use of polystyrene food contact products remain extremely low, with the estimated daily intake calculated at 6.6 micrograms per person per day. This is more than 10,000 times below the safety limit set by FDA (the FDA's acceptable daily intake value of styrene is calculated to be 90,000 micrograms per person per day). • Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Concludes No Cause for Concern from Exposure to Styrene from Foods The Harvard study (2002) reported that styrene is naturally present in foods such as strawberries, beef, and spices, and is naturally produced in the processing of foods such as wine and cheese. The study also reviewed all of the published data on the quantity of styrene contributed to the diet due to migration from food-contact packaging. The scientists concluded that there is no cause for concern from exposure to styrene from foods or polystyrene used in food-contact applications, such as packaging and foodservice containers. For More Information: • Contact the Plastics Foodservice Packaging Group (PFPG) of the American Chemistry Council, (mike levy@americanchemistry.com) for information on FDA reports referenced above. • The Styrene Forum FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions), "What about the safety of polystyrene food packaging?" • "A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Potential Health Risks Associated with Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Styrene", Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Volume 5, Number 1-2,January —June 2002), published quarterly by Taylor& Francis. • Food-Grade EPS Applications Food-grade expanded polystyrene is referred to as Expanded Polystyrene, EPS, Polystyrene Foam1, and Foam Products. It's the material of choice for egg cartons, food take out containers, meat trays, disposable plates and disposable cups - Lightweight - Maintains temperature/heat well - Hygienic, prevents leakage of food and does not compromise the taste of the food Yg , g p T .n 0131 Wigs° ION Hawaiian Plantations® fi�V11 The Taste ofParadire WILL CALL,G&A,AND WAREHOUSE OFFICES:2949 Koapaka Street,Honolulu,Hawaii 96819-1923 Phone:(808)836-3221 Fax:(808)833-8995 ILVKYD, Inc. dba k. yamada distributors An independent leader in packaging and wholesale distribution P.O. BOX 29669, Honolulu, Hawaii 96820 Phone: (808)836-3221 Fax: (808)833-8995 - Inexpensive 1 Foam foodservice products are not Styrofoam.STYROFOAM"'is a registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company that represents its branded building material products,including rigid foam and structural insulated sheathing,and more. • Life Cycle Inventory(LCI) of Foodservice Products Valuable Tool for Industry and Policy Makers A LCI is an analysis of the inputs and outputs of a given product system, a cradle-to-grave picture of a product's environmental attributes, from raw material extraction and manufacturing to post-use recover or disposal. It's easy to focus on a product's end of life since that's what consumers see---but the environmental footprint of any product includes all of its impacts, such as raw material use, resources used in manufacture,fuel use and emissions in transport and more. The 2006 Foodservice Packaging LCI, a peer-reviewed study from Franklin Associates, Ltd, provides a comprehensive look at the energy and environmental performance of food servicing packaging products made with EPS, bleached paperboard or corrugated paperboard, including hot and cold beverage cups and sandwich "clamshells". It provides comparative information on air, water, solid waste and energy as well as a complete range of post-use options such as recycling, composting, land filling and waste-to-energy incineration. http://www.dart.biz/web/environ.nsf/files/Franklin2006.pdf/$FILE/Franklin2006.pdf The 2011 Expanded LCI study summary can be found at http://www.americanchemistry.com/Media/PressReleasesTranscripts/ACC-news-releases/New-Study- Polystyrene-Foam-Cups-and-Plates-Use-Less-Energy.html O The full peer reviewed study can be found at http://plasticfoodservicefacts.com/Life-Cycle-Inventory- Foodservice-Products • 01121 RECI?"° 1 bpiC Hawaiian Plantation5® y� 1 � O The Tare cfParnJisc WILL CALL,G&A,AND WAREHOUSE OFFICES:2949 Koapaka Street,Honolulu,Hawaii 96819-1923 Phone:(808)836-3221 Fax:(808)833-8995