Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim plans to sign a bill passed by the County Council that would ban the use of polystyrene foam food containers on the island in two years.

“I will sign it,” Kim told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “But I do want to emphasize, as I’ve said before, the problem is basically not just the material, it’s us as people who litter and don’t take care.”

Bill 13, introduced by Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara, passed 7-2 on Wednesday. The bill bans the use of polystyrene foam, often referred to as Styrofoam, by food vendors in Hawaii County starting July 1, 2019.

“This is just something that we need to do,” said O’Hara, who represents the eastern portion of Puna. “I understand how difficult it is to get people to change practices, change behavior, and a lot of what we do is simply that, changing behavior.”

Hawaii County follows the lead of Maui County. The Council voted to ban the sale and use of polystyrene foam containers starting Dec. 31, 2018, and Mayor Alan Arakawa signed the measure.

A bill seeking a similar ban before the Honolulu City Council passed first reading earlier this month and has been referred to a committee.

O’Hara said Hawaii County’s version is aligned with Maui’s but calls for the development of administrative rules to enforce the new law. It also requires the director of the Department of Environmental Management to establish an education program on or before Jan. 1, 2019.

“Styrofoam takeout is particularly noxious,” she said. “When you’re eating out, often it’s on the go, and unfortunately, the stuff escapes out the window or back of the pickup truck. It’s very light, flies all over and ends up in the environment, and that’s the problem.”

Alternatives to polystyrene foam containers, meanwhile, have come down in price, she said, due to consumer demand.

A number of exceptions are in place for coolers and ice chests intended for reuse, as well as packaging for raw meat, fish and eggs that have not been further processed, as well as food packaged outside Hawaii County.

Exceptions are also in place for businesses that would experience undue hardship and for county facility users and food vendors during an emergency.

O’Hara said for a nonprofit operation like Lanakila Meals on Wheels, which prepares meals in state-owned public school cafeterias and delivers food to seniors, the change could be a hardship. But she plans to work with the organization to see whether it can make the transition to nonfoam containers.

Hawaii County Council members Aaron Chung and Sue Lee Loy voted no on the bill. O’Hara said a representative from Oahu-based K. Yamada Distributors had also expressed opposition to the polystyrene foam ban.

Fines will be $10 for the first violation, $50 for the second and $200 for the third and any subsequent violation.