Hawaii County committee forwards Bill 83 to council after debate over composting capacity and costs

The Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management voted to forward Bill 83 to the full Hawaii County Council with a favorable recommendation after a 7–1 roll-call vote on Oct. 21.

The measure, introduced by Council member Villegas and co-introduced by Council member Galimba, would amend Chapter 20 of the Hawaii County Code (1983, 2016 ed., as amended) to reduce disposable plastic and polystyrene foodware and service ware in alignment with the County of Hawaii Zero Waste Plan and the State of Hawaii's Aloha+ Challenge solid-waste reduction goals. The committee recorded seven votes in favor, one opposed and one member absent.

The vote followed more than two hours of public testimony and committee discussion that centered on two issues: whether Hawaii County currently has composting capacity to process certified compostable foodware, and the potential cost impact on local businesses and consumers.

Business representatives told the committee that without a local composting facility, certified compostable products would likely still end up in the landfill, imposing higher costs without delivering environmental benefits. Steven Ueda, president and CEO of Sui San Company Limited, said, "Bill 83, as it's written, won't actually achieve that goal" because "the county doesn't have a composting facility that can…