PLASTIC BAG BAN on OAHU

FINAL HEARING - PLASTIC BAG BILL
Watch live on Olelo channel 54 or livestream

Testimony needed supporting banning plastic bags
Council meeting 10am Wed. 12th July, 2017, Honolulu Hale

This is the final meeting on this bill

Strong support is needed to pass Honolulu City Council Bill 59 (2016) FD1 CD3. This version of the bill will ban thick plastic bags and compostable bags on 1st January, 2020. These steps will help protect Hawai`i's marine life because if plastic bags are not being used then they can't blow into the ocean and get ingested by sea turtles and other marine life.

Please help protect sea turtles and other marine life by SUPPORTING BILL 59 (2016) FD1 CD3. Bill 59 is in the final hearing at the Honolulu City Council on Wed. 12th July, 2017 at 10am. PLEASE COME TO THE HEARING AND TESTIFY.

Also please call or email your council member before the meeting and let them know that you live in their district and support banning all plastic checkout bags.

HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Kymberly Marcos Pine
Portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nanakuli, Ma`ili, Wai`anae, Makaha, Kea`au, Makua
Phone: 768 5001
Email: kmpine@honolulu.gov		 Ernest Y. Martin
Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Pupukea, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Laie, Hauula, Punaluu, Kahana, Kaaawa, Kualoa, Waiahole, Kahaluu
Phone: 768 5002
Email: emartin@honolulu.gov

Ikaika Anderson
Ahuimanu, Heeia, Haiku, Kaneohe, Maunawili, Kailua, Olomana, Enchanted Lake, Waimanalo
Phone: 768 5003
Email: ianderson@honolulu.gov		 Trevor Ozawa
Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Aina Haina, Wailupe, Waialae-Iki, Kalani Valley, Kahala, Wilhemina Rise, Kaimuki, portions of Kapahulu, Diamond Head, Black Point, Waikiki, Ala Moana Beach Park
Phone: 768 5004
Email: tozaawa@honolulu.gov

Ann Kobayashi
Kaimuki, Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, McCully, and portions of Ala Moana, Kakaako, Makiki
Phone: 768 5005
Email: akobayashi@honolulu.gov		 Carol Fukunaga
Portions of Makiki, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea, Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Halawa, Aiea, Kalihi Valley, and portions of Liliha and Kalihi
Phone: 768 5006
Email: cafukunaga@honolulu.gov

Joey Manahan
Kalihi, Iwilei, Kalihi Kai, Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Hickam, Foster Village, Ford Island, Sand Island
Phone: 768 5007
Email: jmanahan@honolulu.gov		 Brandon Elefante
Lower Aiea, Pearlridge, Waimalu, Newtown, Pearl City, Seaview, Crestview, Waipio Gentry, Waipahu
Phone: 768 5008
Email: belefante@honolulu.gov

Ron Menor
Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Mililani Town, West Loch, Iroquois Point, portions of Ewa Villages, Ewa Beach
Phone: 768 5009
Email: rmenor@honolulu.gov

To do online testimony click this link:  Online testimony submission form.
Testimony can only be submitted after June 1st when the agenda goes online and please do it by 10am June 6th.

Instructions for filling in online form to SUPPORT Bill 59 FD1 CD3:

Meeting date - 12th July, 2017
Council/PH committee - select "Council"
Agenda item - "Bill 59 (2016) FD1 CD3
Position: select "SUPPORT"
Representing - select "Self" (unless you are a business owner or director of an organization, in which case put your organization name and not B.E.A.C.H.)

Include in written testimony:
- where you live (ie. Kailua, Kaka`ako etc.)
- let the Council know why you support or oppose the bills.
- the most important point to make is that all plastic checkout bags need to be banned on O`ahu and that you don't agree with putting fees on plastic bags and not banning them.

Thank you for taking action!  Please ask all your friends and family to help too - make phone calls, write letters to the editor, send in testimony, and most importantly, COME TO THE HEARING. It's really important to have as many people as possible come to the hearing and tell the Council in person that you support banning plastic checkout bags.

If you live on Kaua`i, Maui or Hawai`i islands or elsewhere there is a plastic bag ban, please send testimony letting the Council know how well the ban is working there and the positive effect it has had on the environment.

If you are a business owner, please do testimony on your letterhead. Thank you for helping.

Information about Bill 59
(Honolulu City Council website with bill versions, agendas, minutes and all the testimony)

Meeting agenda
(Full Council meeting 12th July, 2017. The plastic bag Bill 59 is on page 15)

Oahu's Plastic Bag Ban
Hawaii Public Radio's Town Square radio show, 1st June, 2017

10 cent fee will increase plastic bag problem
Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9th May, 2017.


What does CD and FD mean? The CD means "committee draft" (as the bill got changed in committee) and the FD means "floor draft" meaning that another version of the bill was introduced on the floor at the full council meeting.
Thick plastic City Mill bag, Alan Davis/Sandy Beach 17th March, 2017 Don Quijote 10 cent bag (thick plastic) bag in bin near store, 18th March. 2017 10 cent thick plastic bags, Don Quijote, 28th August, 2015 Thick plastic Walmart bag, Bellows Beach, Waimanalo, 19th September, 2015

Thick plastic 10 cent bags, Walmart, 18th March, 2017 10 cent thick plastic bags, Don Quijote, 18th March, 2017 10 cent thick plastic bags, Walmart, 10th May, 2016

10 cent thick plastic bags, Walmart store, 18th March, 2017 10 cent thick plastic bags, Don Quijote, 18th March, 2017 10 cent thick plastic bags, Walmart store, 18th March, 2017

Walmart 10 cent thick plastic bag, Emmeline Place, Likelike Highway, Kalihi, 1st July, 2016 Walmart 10 cent thick plastic bag, Ala Moana Beach Park, 7th August, 2016 Longs thick plastic bag, Park on Hanepepe Loop, Hawai`i kai, 4th September, 2015

Walmart 10 cent thick plastic bags, Emmeline Place, Likelike Highway, Kalihi, 4th May, 2016 Times thick plastic bag, Makai Research Pier, 27th October, 2016 Walmart thick plastic bags, Ala Moana Beach Park, 5th August, 2015 Longs thick plastic bag, Waimanalo, 17th March, 2017



Walmart "reusable" bags 4 days after the plastic bag ban became effective on July 1, 2015		 The Honolulu County plastic bag ordinance went into effect on Wednesday 1st July, 2015.  The law exempts the following plastic bags: compostable plastic bags, 2.25 mil thick plastic bags, plastic bags used for fruit and vegetables, plastic bags used for prepared foods (take-out foods, deli foods, bakery goods etc.).  Click on the link for a list of all exemptions:
Bill 38

B.E.A.C.H. has been speaking out about the loopholes in this law and the need to fix them to State and County lawmakers over the past 3 years.  We did manage to close one of the loopholes (with Bill 38) and get "biodegradable" plastic bags banned but other loopholes from Bill 10 (the original bill that B.E.A.C.H. was not involved in) remain.

Links to HPR radio interviews with B.E.A.C.H. Co-Founder, Suzanne Frazer: 
Bill 38 Plastic Bag Ban Loopholes and Background
Is Oahu's Plastic Bag Ban Working?

Other links:

"Honolulu's Poorly Written Plastic Bag Ban Still Allows Plastic Bags", breitbart.com, July 10, 2015

Honolulu Star Advertiser did an editorial about Bill 59 on 30th Sept. titled:  "Go 'all in' for plastic bag ban"

"Hawai`i Just Became the First State to Ban Plastic Bags", huffingtonpost.com, July 1st, 2015

"Loophole undermines Hawai`i's Historic Plastic Bag Ban", huffingtonpost.com, July 10th, 2015

Here's a cartoon: "Plastic Bag Ban Full of Holes", pritchettcartoons.com, July 15, 2015

"Hawaii First State to Ban Plastic Bags at Checkout", usnews.nbcnews.com, May 16, 2012
article claiming that it is a statewide ban (it's 2 environmental groups here promoting this false idea)

click on photos to enlarge
Times bag, H-1 on ramp, November 27, 2015 Longs bags, Ala Moana Beach, July 5, 2015 ABC bag, Ala Wai Small Boat Harbour, August 20, 2016 Walmart bag, Haubush, Ewa Beach, December 24, 2015

Walmart bag, Kapaa road, Kailua, October 1, 2016 Longs bag, Kokokahi YWCA dumpster, Kaneohe, November 11, 2015 Don Quiote bag, Ala Moana Beach, July 5, 2015






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Coral Photograph Credit to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce and Dr. James P. McVey. Dolphins, Japanese Angelfish, Green turtle, and Laysan Albatross photos by James Watt. Humpback whale photo by James Mobeley

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