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Loading...Plastic Bags Banned On Hawaii’s Big Island
The post-card perfect beaches of Hawaii’s Big Island will now be safer from toxic litter and costly waste thanks to recent decisions by the Hawaii County Council and Mayor Billy Kenoi.
In late December, the Council approved a bill that would restrict retailers from offering plastic bags at the checkout counter. And just over a week ago, the bill was signed into law by Kenoi. In doing so, the Big Island joined its neighbors Kauai and Maui which already have similar bans in place. However, support for the bill was far from unanimous.
A frequent surfer, Kenoi acknowledged that plastic bags can become unwelcome litter and also threaten marine mammals that mistake them for food. However, Kenoi said he also agrees with bill opponents who feel charging for plastic bags, education and voluntary recycling are better solutions than government mandates for addressing littering issues.
“Yet, this bill holds the promise of keeping our island clean, healthy and safe, and we need to finish the job,” Kenoi told lawmakers.
Hawaii County’s law affects only plastic shopping bags distributed at the checkout counter; garbage bags, those available in the produce section of supermarkets and packaging material are excluded.
For those who feel that the bill is unfair, or will negatively impact retailers in extremely wet areas like Hilo, there will be plenty of time to create an adaptation plan, as the law won’t take effect until Jan. 17, 2013. After that, businesses may sell plastic shopping bags for an additional year without violating the law.
Related Reading:
Success! Seattle Votes To Ban Plastic Bags
Update On Great Pacific Garbage Patch (Yes, It’s Still There)
Google Earth Shows Ocean Pollution Is A Global Problem
Image Credit: Flickr – velkr0
Read more: bag ban, beaches, hawaii, litter, marine mammals, ocean pollution, plastic bags
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115 comments
+ add your ownI have been used cloth bags for about 9 years now. I will admit though, in the summer, I will put meat in a plastic bag at the grocery because it sometimes leaks.
Great news. You can sign my petition to ban the bag in Maine here: http://www.change.org/petitions/maine-ban-the-bag
Awesome! We need this nationwide!
It's time all states ban plastic bags. It's better to use your own bags to carry your groceries home in. One only has to pack them in their cars & they are ready to go. No more broken bags that will drop groceries, Also, there are stores that will give you cash if you use your own bags.
Where I live you have to pay a deposit for bags and many stores will not give out plastice ones anymore in any case. I applaud Hawaii and prefer cloth bags anyhow. You can sew them when they rip and wash them when they get dirty!
I would like to see a nation wide ban, but if it takes one state at a time, then so be it!
Bravo!
(operative word) WISH we had a ban like that in Myrtle Beach.
This made my day! A beautiful island without the toxic plastic bag :)
good!
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