NAWILIWILI — The Kaua‘i County Council in a 5-1 vote Wednesday shot down amendments that would have created certain exemptions in the county’s almost 3-month-old plastic bag ban.
Councilman Mel Rapozo in February introduced an amendment that would have allowed ready-to-eat food establishments to provide biodegradable plastic bags to customers.
After that proposal worked its way through committee meetings and public hearings, Councilwoman Nadine Nakamura introduced an amendment Wednesday in an attempt to offer a compromise between an “outright ban on biodegradable bags” and Rapozo’s proposal.
She said her amendment, which tightened the broad definition of “biodegradable bags” in Rapozo’s amendment, would have required ready-to-eat food establishments to use compostable bags that meet specifications of the American Society of Testing and Materials Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics D6400.
“Progressive cities like San Francisco and Santa Monica use this standard in defining biodegradable bags,” she said.
Nakamura’s amendment failed 2-4 with only Rapozo and her voting for it. Back on the main motion to approve Rapozo’s bill, the sole vote in favor of it was from Rapozo.
“The intent of my amendment was strictly for food safety issues,” Rapozo said before the final vote. “It was not an issue of convenience.”
Rapozo on Feb. 9 introduced Bill 2400 to amend a law that went into effect Jan. 11 banning plastic bags at points of sale. He said he received complaints that Ordinance 885 could be posing a health threat to customers at ready-to-eat food establishments.
Rapozo’s amendment would have allowed those establishments to offer biodegradable plastic bags at checkout stands. He said there was a petition signed by over 2,000 residents asking the council to address the food-safety issue.
The council over the course of the last two months heard several testimonies concerning possible cross-contamination of food carried in reusable bags, specifically due to improper care of those bags.
A study conducted by the University of Arizona citing alarming levels of cross-contamination from reusable bags was discredited by some council members after learning the study’s funding came from oil companies.
“The source of information is important,” Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura said. “If the oil industry supported the research we have to look at the results accordingly.”
Yukimura also said the research did not conclude there was food poisoning from the bags, only that there was lot of bacteria.
Related laws
Maui County, which has a similar plastic bag ban, is currently investigating reports that seven business have violated the ban, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
Just like on Kaua‘i, non-compliance with the ordinance could fetch a $500 fine for each day of violation. After 30 days the fine would increase to $1,000 per day.
Numerous municipalities around the country have either recently passed similar plastic bag ban laws or are considering related legislation to address the issue.
At the state level in Hawai‘i, lawmakers are considering a bill that would charge a 5-cent fee for each single-use paper or plastic checkout bag provided to a customer. The legislation provides for several exemptions, including bags used to transport prepared foods or pet waste. Senate Bill 1363 SD2 HD1 was to be heard by the Finance Committee Wednesday.
Kaua‘i Sen. Ron Kouchi voted in favor of the bill twice in March. Rep. James Tokioka, D-15th District, was excused from a vote on it when it came before a House committee.
Visit www.kauai.gov or capitol.hawaii.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
