HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0107.207 2016-2018 DATE: 6th September, 2017
TO: Council Chair Valerie Poindexter, Vice-Chair Karen Eoff and Members of the ._,.
Hawai'i County Councilceo
FROM: Dean Otsuki cs
C)
RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 13 Draft 3 ,,
Relating to reduction of polystyrene foam food containers and food service
ware.
Council meeting on Thursday 7th September, 2017 at 9AM.
Dear Chair Poindexter,Vice-Chair Eoff and Members of the Council,
I am writing in support of Bill 13 Draft 3 which would prohibit food vendors using
polystyrene foam containers for food on Hawaii Island. I would like the bill to also
ban the sale of polystyrene foam containers.
Studies have shown that the chemicals in polystyrene foam food and drink
containers leach styrene into food and drink. Styrene is toxic to the brain and
nervous system.
There are many other better, healthier alternatives for polystyrene food and drink
containers on the market today that don't have the toxic chemicals in them like
styrene.
Polystyrene foam containers are very light and can easily blow into the ocean where
marine life can ingest them. Plastic in the ocean accumulates persistent organic
pollutants (POPs) such as DDT, DDE, PCB's, and dioxins on the surface of the plastic
up to a million times more than the surrounding sea water making the plastic very
toxic.When marine life ingest marine debris those POPs migrate to the fatty tissues
of the animal. These POPs bioaccumulate up the food chain where the top of the
food chain including humans get the most chemicals. POPs are endocrine disruptors
that can interfere with the endocrine (or hormone) system. These disruptions can
cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders.
Please pass Bill 13 Draft 3 to help keep our ocean environment clean and protect
residents and visitors from toxic chemicals from polystyrene foam.
Thank you,
•
Dean Otsuki
Comm No. Ibl.Wi
Ref. T�•
CO�
Ref. Date SEP 0 7 2917