Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that would prohibit various plastics.

Highlights:

• Prohibits no state or county agency to purchase, use, sell, or distribute single-use plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, or straws after July 1, 2021 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits any restaurant, hotel, standard bar, or any other business where food or beverages are sold to use, sell or distribute single-use plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, or straws after July 1, 2022 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits no individual or business to distribute, sell, or otherwise provide any form of plastic bag after July 1, 2023 (Sec. 2).

• Defines “polystyrene” as a thermoplastic petrochemical material utilizing a styrene monomer, including all polystyrene, meaning any styrene or vinyl chloride polymer that is blown into a foam-like material (Sec. 2).

• Defines “polystyrene foam container” as a container that is made using polystyrene (Sec. 2).

• Establishes within the Department of Health for administrative purposes a plastic source reduction working group (Sec. 3).

• Requires the working group to do the following (Sec. 3):

• Formulate a plan for eliminating single-use plastic packaging from Hawaii waste stream;

• Develop strategies to encourage reuse in the food service industry, such as reusable container incentive programs for customers;

• Provide recommendations for composting plastics in Hawaii to encourage reuse of waste and create value added products to be used in regenerating Hawaii’s agricultural potential; and

• Study and develop a systematic plan to phase out the use of single-use plastic beverage containers

• Requires the working group to cease to exist on June 30, 2022 (Sec. 4).

• Appropriates $25,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 and fiscal year 2020-2021 for expenses arising out of the activities of the plastice source reduction working group (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text