Plastic Source Reduction Working Group

Pursuant to Act 254, the Department of Health, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch is convening a Plastic Source Reduction Working Group. Act 254 requires the working group to:

Formulate a plan for reducing and recovering plastic from the Hawaii waste stream;
Develop strategies to encourage plastic reduction and reuse in the food service industry, such as reusable container incentive programs for customers;
Provide recommendations to encourage reuse, reduction, recycling, and recovery of waste and create value added products to innovate and responsibly manage the life cycle of existing resources;
Consult with each county that has already enacted ordinances related to single-use plastics such as plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers and develop recommendations for the implementation of a uniform, statewide policy for these items that can replace existing county ordinances and provide businesses with laws that are consistent throughout the State;
Consult with stakeholders to develop appropriate exemptions to address concerns of health and safety, lack of suitable alternative products on the market, and lack of infrastructure;
Evaluate potential life-cycle and environmental implications of replacing plastic packaging with alternative products; and
Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including recommendations for pilot projects for Hawaii businesses to phase out single-use plastic packaging, promote reuse, and find sustainable alternatives for packaging, as well as any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

Working Group Members

Lene Ichinotsubo

Department of Health

Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch

Acting Chief

Clifford Inn

Department of Land & Natural Resources

Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation

Program Specialist

Catherine Gewecke

Department of Land & Natural Resources

Division of Aquatic Resources