Plastic Source Reduction Working Group
Pursuant to Act 254 (opens in new tab), 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 Aquatic Biologist |
Chris Tatum
Hawaii Tourism Authority President & CEO |
| Sanne Berrig
County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management Recycling Specialist |
Tamara Farnsworth
County of Maui Environmental Protection & Sustainability Division Manager |
| Justin Gruenstein
City & County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency Deputy Director |
Allison Fraley
County of Kauai Department of Public Works Solid Waste Program Coordinator |
| Danielle Bass
State of Hawaii Office of Planning State Sustainability Coordinator |
Doorae Shin
Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter Coordinator |
| Nicole Chatterson
Zero Waste Oahu Director |
Rafael Bergstrom
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii Executive Director |
| Lauren Zirbel
Hawaii Food Industry Association Executive Director |
Victor Lim
Hawaii Restaurant Association Legislative Lead |
| Sherry Menor-McNamara
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii President & CEO |
David Thorp
American Beverage Association Senior Director of Governmental Affairs |
| Adrian Hong
Island Plastic Bags President |
Bruce Iverson
Reynolds Recycling Director of Marketing and Development |
Meeting #1: November 14, 2019
Agenda (PDF, opens in new tab)
Board Packet (PDF, opens in new tab)
Welcome Messages (PDF, opens in new tab)
Written Summary & Audio Recording (PDF, opens in new tab)
Meeting #2: January 9, 2020
Agenda (PDF, opens in new tab)
Board Packet (PDF, opens in new tab)
Written Summary & Audio Recording (PDF, opens in new tab)
Meeting #3: May 21, 2020
Agenda & Board Packet (PDF, opens in new tab)
Revised Agenda (PDF, opens in new tab)
Written Summary & Audio Recording (PDF, opens in new tab)
Meeting #4: June 18, 2020
Agenda & Board Packet (PDF, opens in new tab)
Written Summary & Audio Recording (PDF, opens in new tab)
Meeting #5: August 13, 2020
Agenda (PDF, opens in new tab)
Board Packet-Attachment A (PDF, opens in new tab)
Board Packet-Attachment B (PDF, opens in new tab)
Written Summary & Audio Recording (PDF, opens in new tab)
Meeting #6: September 3, 2020
Agenda (PDF, opens in new tab)
Board Packet-Attachment A (PDF, opens in new tab)
Written Summary & Audio Recording (PDF, opens in new tab)
Meeting #7: September 24, 2020
Agenda (PDF, opens in new tab)
Board Packet-Final Draft PSRWG Report to Legislature (PDF, opens in new tab)
Written Summary & Audio Recording (PDF, opens in new tab)
Report to Legislature
Report (PDF, opens in new tab)
County Waste Characterization Studies
Honolulu (PDF, opens in new tab)
Hawaii (PDF, opens in new tab)
Contact Information
Hawaii Department of Health
Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch
2827 Waimano Home Road #100
Pearl City, HI 96782
Ph. (808) 586-4226
Fax (808) 586-7509
Email:
Lane Otsu
[email protected]