Efforts to pass statewide plastic bag regulations have failed in Hawaii, leaving retailers to contend with a range of different requirements for each county.
This past session, House Bill 1507 proposed uniform minimum statewide standards for permissable bags, but even the watered-down version of the measure, which set up a working group, "to study methods of reducing the use of both single-use plastic bags and certain non-recyclable paper bags," was deferred in a House committee.
The Kauai County ordinance is the most onerous, said Adrian Hong, president of Island Plastic Bags, because of the allowed thickness of reusable plastic bags. A millimeter is 88 times as thick as a "mil," he said, so 2.25 millimeters is just way too thick.
"We told them it was a mistake," he said, "but it passed anyway."
Here’s the lay of the land in plastic bag regulation, county by county:
Honolulu
Allows compostable bags, recyclable paper bags (containing a minimum of 40 percent recycled content) or reusable bags (if they’re plastic, they must be a minimum of 2.25 mils thick).
Numerous exemptions include bulk-items bags; bags used for frozen foods, plant material or other damp items; bags for prepared foods from takeout restaurants; newspaper bags for home delivery; pharmacy bags for medications; and bags sold in packages such as garbage bags.
Kauai
Allows biodegradable bags intended for single use, containing no fossil-fuel polymers; labeled "reusable and recyclable" paper bags containing at least 40 percent recycled content, with no "old-growth" tree fibers; reusable bags at least 2.25 millimeters thick; produce bags, bulk food bags; and meat-packaging bags.
Maui
Allows labeled "reusable and recyclable" paper bags containing at least 40 percent recycled content; and reusable bags (plastic types must have handles and measure 3 mils thick). Exemptions include handle-less bags for food, baked goods and bulk items, garment bags and prescription drug bags.
Hawaii island
Allows paper bags in general and reusable bags designed for reuse, at least 3 mils thick. Exemptions are similar to those in Maui.
