HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0107.148 2016-2018 COUNTY CLERK
Murashige, Laura COUNTY �F u*TThT►
RECEIVED
From: milholenjennifer@gmail.com on behalf of Jennifer Milholen Time °2-:(2°`°44Date By
<jennifer@styrophobia.com> `3'
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2017 12:50 PM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Kanuha, Dru; Chung,Aaron; David, Maile; Eoff, Karen; Lee Loy, Sue; Ohara, Eileen;
Ruggles,Jennifer; Richards,Tim; Poindexter,Valerie; COH Mayor;Toguchi, Marcie
Subject: SUPPORT for Bill 13 (eps foam restrictions) 3/8/2017 9:00am
Aloha,
My name is Jennifer Milholen and I am a resident of Kailua. As the President of Styrophobia, I am writing in full support of
Bill#13.
I, and thousands of others in Hawaii, have been working for years to stem the flow of disposable plastics into
Hawaii's environment. The pursuit of"Styrofoam" (EPS foam)bans and regulation do not exist in isolation, it is
one part of a larger fight against plastic pollution.
The focus on EPS foam is an effort to address the low hanging fruit of disposable plastics. While EPS foam has
value to vendors be it's light weight, low cost, and its ability to insulate well, it is 90% air, made of styrene (a
known carcinogen), and fractures quickly into small pieces that are near impossible to contain in trash cans and
trucks and wildlife mistake for food...causing them to starve and develop tumors. This is an example of a
product, that not only has alternatives not made from petroleum, but they are readily available, they are
effective, and the cost differential is minor enough to be passed to consumers. Given this, it is a logical first step
in stemming the flow of toxic plastics into our environment.
The common objections from opponents are easily rebutted:
Bans are extreme and take away choice:
Answer: Bans are appropriate when the detriment to community and the environment is so high that it
outweighs an individual's right to choose which product they want to use. There is plenty of precedent for
this: DDT is an effective herbicide, but it's highly toxic (banned), Asbestos: effective insulation, but toxic
(banned), microbeads:.cheap and easy for companies to use,but toxic to the environment(banned federal
level), grease traps are required due to sewer system damage even though they cost business owners more
money,the ADA requires ramps, even though they cost business owners more money.
Alternative products to EPS foam are too expensive and don't work:
Answer: In many cases, compostable or recyclable products cost more than foam, but there are many
instances in which they cost the same or even less. Foam clamshells tend to cost vendors $0.03-$0.08/piece
depending on volume of the order. While a comparable compostable product may cost$0.16 - $0.20/piece.
Technically, this can be looked at as costing 2x3 more, but if looked at more specifically it can be broken
down like this: If a restaurant does 100 covers a day and have to spend$0.10 more per clamshell,that's $10
more per day. 2 customers more per day could cover these additional costs, which will be brought in by the
draw of a environmentally responsible restaurant.
Looked at another way, if vendors pass on the cost of alternative products then they could charge an even
$0.25 extra to cover the costs. The average person eats out 100 times a year. If they were asked to pay $0.25
extra per time that is $25 a year, a reasonable cost for eliminating plastic pollution. In this case,there is no
burden on the vendor. Thousands have responded to surveys indicating they are willing to pay more for non-
foam disposables.
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Regarding effectiveness of the products,the alternatives that exist have been tested out by many vendors in
Hawaii and they have stated that they are happy with how they work. Virtually every distributor in Hawaii
carries compostable or recyclable products. World Centric and Sustainable Island Products can also produce
custom made items if a specialty product is needed. Zippys is the biggest example, McDonalds,too. They
have tested and approved the products but have chosen not to switch until there is a foam ban. Kona Brewery
is a happy user of compostable products and have switched out all of their inventory. Seattle, Miami, and San
Francisco all have foam bans, and they still manage to serve hot soups! The implications that foam is the only
product capable of meeting vendor's needs is simply unsupported.
An EPS foam ban will put vendors out of business:
Answer:In San Jose,following claims that a ban would ruin businesses,an investigation was conducted in which 28 CA counties with
populations over 80,000 who had instituted bans were surveyed.Not a single instance of negative economic harm was reported in any of
these cases.Locally,Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program has certified over 120 foam free restaurants and counting,and these
businesses are not only surviving,they are thriving.Suggesting that businesses will fail because of foam bans is a scare tactic to dissuade
lawmakers who don't want to appear as anti-business.It has been effective speculation,but is not supported by the evidence.In addition,
there are financial burden exemptions in all of the legislation proposed if a vendor can demonstrate the costs are unreasonable.
I urge you to pass Bill 13 and become the first county to answer the call of Hawaii's residents to combat
disposable plastic pollution.
Jennifer Milholen
President
Styrophobia
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