Editorial: Plastics ban bill a sensible start

Honolulu, like every other city in our throw-away society, uses too much plastic. There are mountains of the plastic packaging tossed aside in almost every manufactured item people purchase. The material is favored because it’s lightweight, sturdy and sanitary — that last being a key reason why it’s been used so widely across the food-service industry.

Polystyrene is a kind of foamed or solid plastic that is ubiquitous in eateries everywhere — clamshell food containers or cups for hot liquid handed to customers across the countertops of Oahu. There are plastic utensils, too, and straws inserted through plastic cup covers every minute of every day.

All are petroleum derivatives, which means they burn well at facilities such as the H-Power plant that generates energy from the waste. The flip side of that coin: The emissions from producing and incinerating plastics dumps loads of carbon into the atmosphere, the very thing environmentalists are telling us to reduce to combat climate change.

However, it’s the food containers and utensils that too often are casually tossed and strewn across the landscape and find their way, by washing into storm drains and beach litter, to the ocean. According to Bill 40, a measure making its way through the Honolulu City Council, an estimated 80% of marine debris originates in this way and ends up as urban runoff.

This is, of course, why there’s an immense patch of floating trash in the Pacific Ocean, which is ingested by marine life and eventually returns to land, poisoning fish that end up on the dinner plate.

Curbing that practice is the focus of Bill 40, which seeks over time to first reduce and then ban most of these plastic items being used in local restaurants or wherever prepared food items are served.

Oahu then would be following the example already set by Hawaii and Maui counties, which have enacted their own, though more limited bans, focusing on styrofoam.

A version of the Honolulu measure, initially drawn up with little input from the industry but now addressing some of their concerns, is due to come up Dec. 4 for final vote.

The emerging bill revision has compromises deserving of consideration. To begin with, the plan is being phased to enable businesses to prepare. The new proposed timeline:

>> Jan. 1, 2020 — The bill would become effective, starting a period of outreach by the city Department of Environmental Services to educate the public and businesses.

>> Jan. 1, 2021 — Plastic service ware such as straws, utensils and stirrers may be provided only by customer request or in a self-service container (though the self-service availability seems dubious and counter-productive). Industry spokespeople have said this upon- request aspect give vendors a chance to educate the public on why they are being somewhat restricted — and urging customers who plan to take the food home against using disposable knives and forks. Polystyrene food ware (cups, clamshells, bowls and the like) will be banned.

>> Jan. 1, 2022 — The plastic food ware and plastic service ware, like the polystyrene, will be banned.

Among the myriad proposed exemptions: grab-and-go and pre-sealed items such as premade sandwiches, bentos and condiment packets, to name a few; “shelf-stable” items on grocery-store shelves, such as rice; and food bags such as bread bags, chip packages and cracker and cookie wrappers.

Further, businesses can seek city approval for temporary exemptions. “Hardship” cases that can be made for some individual businesses, and whole groups or associations can seek an industry exemption for certain reasons.

Here’s one that makes sense, to start: Alternative containers and wraps, made of non-plastic or compostable materials, are on the market, but supplies are limited and, at present, cost more. An exemption can be granted for up to two years.

The exemption would be renewable, but the city needs to make sure businesses are pursuing the alternatives: The bar should be raised gradually for renewals, as the packaging manufacturers respond to demand, and make products available cheaper and in greater bulk.

In addition to oversight by Environmental Services, some help in developing the guidance for the exemption review could be provided by the Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency: This issue should fit within that agency’s wheelhouse.

This will take time, but there’s wisdom in the Council pressing ahead with a phased ban: It adds to a market demand for alternative products, which is necessary to drive competition and better pricing for the businesses.

And just as Honolulu shoppers have adjusted to Oahu’s plastic bag ban by bringing their own totes, the consumer has a responsibility, too, to think twice about those utensils, straws or other food ware they may not really need.

In an island state, everyone owns a piece of the problem — and of the solution. Bill 40 offers a route toward less plastic waste from our eateries and vendors. With care, it does not have to overburden the businesses that serve up the food, either.