In what appears to be a growing trend among municipalities nationally, Hawaii island is becoming the third county in the state to do away with certain kinds of plastic bags at the grocery checkout counter.
The ban on single-use plastic bags begins Jan. 17.
Honolulu is the fourth and last county in the state scheduled to begin a ban on certain kinds of plastic bags on July 1, 2015. Honolulu’s ban focuses on doing away with nonrecyclable paper bags and nonbiodegradable plastic bags at the grocery counter.
Some Oahu stores are already offering incentives. Times gives customers a 3-cent discount per bag. Foodland gives 5 cents off or three Hawaiian Airlines frequent-flier miles.
The bans at the county level in Hawaii have continued to grow after a statewide measure to impose a ban on single-use grocery bags failed to pass in the state Legislature in 2012.
In California about one-third of the population is now living in municipalities with a ban on single-use grocery bags. Los Angeles is one of the latest.
"It’s amazing," said California Assemblyman Marc Levine. "We’ve seen local governments take the lead … and the sky hasn’t fallen yet."
Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, director of the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management, said a number of consumers have begun bringing their reusable bags to stores to carry their groceries.
"People adjust, and we don’t anticipate any major problems," Todd said. "We’ve had tremendous cooperation with the public and the stores."
The ordinance, signed by Mayor Billy Kenoi on Jan. 17, gave stores a year to make the transition away from plastic bags.
When the ban begins, Hawaii island customers will be able to use paper bags or reusable bags.
Plastic bags will still be allowed for bulk items such as fish, nuts, meat, grains, fresh produce, garments and prescription medications.
Maui and Kauai counties have similar bans in force.
"From a marine perspective it’s a tremendous victory," said Robert Harris, director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii chapter. "On Maui, in particular, the plastic bag ban has been incredibly successful."
Harris said Maui’s municipal landfill, where plastic bags once were everywhere, is relatively clear of bags.
He acknowledged that it would be difficult to quantify the impact on marine animals but said he’s certain the ban has helped marine mammals and turtles.
Harris said he’s not surprised that counties in Hawaii are taking the lead in pushing for a plastic bag ban.
"I think people in Hawaii care greatly about the environment," he said.
Harris said the counties’ switch from plastic to paper grocery bags is not necessarily an environmental win, as far as reducing the carbon footprint.
He said paper bags cost more and require more water to produce.
Harris said his group supports a switch to reusable bags and reducing both paper and plastic bags.
Sierra Club Hawaii, representing some 12,000 members and supporters, backed a state legislative measure that would have imposed a 5-to-10-cent charge on consumers per plastic or paper grocery bag, with part of the proceeds going to restore and expand watershed areas.
He said his group is waiting to see the impact of the counties’ ban on plastic bags and to reassess the legislative measure.
Lauren Zirbel, executive director of the Hawaii Food Industry Association, said because retail food chains have stores in different counties in Hawaii, her group would prefer a statewide legislative solution, rather than a county-by-county ban.
Zirbel said her group supports the ordinances passed by municipalities in California discouraging the use of single-use plastic as well as paper bags.
She said paper bags are about 10 times more expensive than plastic bags.
