A City Council committee advanced a bill Wednesday to ban the distribution of nonbiodegradable plastic bags by most Oahu retailers, despite opposition from business interests and concerns raised by the official who would be tasked with enforcing such a ban.

Honolulu is the only one of Hawaii’s four counties to not have a ban on plastic shopping bags.

Under the bill being considered in Honolulu, businesses making more than a yet-to-be-decided gross sales amount could provide only compostable bags, recyclable paper bags or reusable bags to customers at the point of sale. A business found in violation would need to cease distribution, and be fined from $100 to $1,000 a day.

Following the 4-0 vote Wednesday by the Council’s Public Works and Sustainability Committee, the bill moves to the second of three required votes by the full Council.

Several Council members, including Nestor Garcia and Romy Cachola, said they would prefer to see if the Legislature passes a bill requiring a statewide fee for single-use plastic bags. The 10-cent-per-bag fee would go primarily to state watershed programs.

City Environmental Services Director Tim Steinberger did not speak for or against the bill Wednesday, but noted that the city would have additional costs for administration and enforcement if a plastic bag ban were imposed, and it might even involve setting up an appeals process.

He noted that enforcement and administration of the city’s kitchen grease disposal program takes about 20 full-time employees. A bag ban "probably would require a reorganization of the department," Steinberger said.

He also noted that unlike Hawaii’s other counties, Honolulu has HPOWER, an incineration facility that burns most trash, including plastic bags, to fire boilers that generate electricity.

Carol Pregill, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, said recyclable paper bags are up to 10 times more expensive than plastic bags.

She urged Council members to support the bag fee bills moving through the House and Senate. "We believe this will achieve the same results as a ban while giving consumers a choice," she said.

Council Public Works Chairman Stanley Chang said he expects the bill to be amended to address some of the concerns raised Wednesday, as well as at an upcoming public hearing before the Council.

Maui and Kauai have already imposed bans on plastic shopping bags, while the Hawaii County ordinance takes effect next year and merchants would still be allowed to sell plastic bags for another year without penalty.

An effort to enact a plastic bag ban at the Honolulu Council two years ago was unsuccessful.