The County Council will consider a bill aimed at reducing the use of disposable plastic and polystyrene foodware and serviceware on county property.
Bill 83, introduced by Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas with assistance from Councilwoman Michelle Galimba, proposes amendments to the Hawaii County Code to restrict the sale, use, and distribution of disposable foodware made from plastic and polystyrene at county facilities and by food providers operating on county property. The measure aligns with the county’s Zero Waste Plan and the state’s Aloha+ Challenge solid waste reduction goals.
The bill also aims to curb the environmental impacts of disposable foodware, which the council describes as contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, litter, marine pollution and harm to wildlife.
Under the proposed ordinance, food providers and county facilities would be prohibited from offering disposable plastic or polystyrene foodware and serviceware unless requested by customers or used in designated self-service areas. The bill mandates the use of reusable or certified compostable alternatives, which must meet the standards set by organizations like the Compost Manufacturing Alliance or bear the BPI certification mark.
Galimba said part of the urgency behind the bill stems from growing concerns about the island’s waste capacity.
“Our landfill at Waikoloa is filling up very, very quickly,” Galimba told the Tribune-Herald on Thursday. “My colleague Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder was talking about this recently. When he first came into office eight years ago, it was expected to last 50 years. Our latest estimate is … more like 20, at best.”
The proposal includes exemptions for food packaged outside the county, reusable coolers, and raw meat or seafood packaging. It also allows for temporary exemptions in cases of undue hardship or emergencies.
Violations could result in fines ranging from $200 to $1,000 per day, depending on the nature of the offense and the size of any related special event. Special event fines are tiered based on the number of attendees, with penalties rising for larger gatherings.
“Those violations are for events,” Galimba told the Tribune-Herald. “It’s not about individuals having a picnic at the beach park with their families. Those fines and regulations are about events that got a permit from the county at county facilities — very specific kinds of events and regulations.”
Galimba also cited environmental and public health risks as motivation for the measure.
“It’s becoming more and more common to see … microplastics and nanoplastics in our blood, in our brains,” she said.
The bill is scheduled for discussion at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday during the Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management meeting. If approved, the ordinance would take effect one year after approval, giving food providers time to transition to the new regulations.
“Overall, the bill is meant to be a nudge for all of us,” Galimba said.
Email Daniel Farr dfarr@hawaiitribune-herald.com