Question: Many of us now recycle plastic bags from the markets for trash disposal. Will the ban on plastic bags in July mean these bags can’t be used for trash also?
Answer: No. Section 9-9 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu will ban only businesses from providing customers with non-compost- able plastic checkout bags and non-recyclable paper bags.
"If individuals still have non-compostable bags, these will be accepted in the trash," said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Services.
The onus is on businesses to be in compliance.
The new law will not preclude businesses from providing customers with reusable bags, compostable plastic bags or recyclable paper bags for groceries or other items; or non-recyclable paper bags to hold prepared foods, beverages or bakery goods.
Acceptable bags are compostable plastic bags labeled as such; recyclable paper bags and reusable bags with handles made of cloth or other washable fabric or durable material.
Section 9-9, which takes effect July 1, also will not affect a whole host of other kinds of bags, including those used to package loose items, such as fruits and vegetables; to wrap frozen foods, meat/fish, flowers or potted plants to contain dampness; to transport prepared foods, beverages, or bakery goods, including takeout bags used at restaurants and lunchwagons; to contain prescription drugs; for newspaper delivery; for laundry; to contain fish or other live animals; or to transport chemicals.
For more information, go to the city’s opala.org website and click on "plastic bag ban" under "business recycling" or call 768-3200.
Question: In case of an accident and I render aid to the victim and the victim dies, will I be held responsible and sued because I am not a qualified doctor or nurse or had any medical training? What protection do I have?
Answer: It will depend on the situation, but Hawaii, as do all states, has a "good Samaritan" law to protect people acting in "good faith" and absent of "gross negligence" from civil liability.
The laws vary widely state by state.
In Hawaii, Section 663-1.5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes says, "Any person who in good faith renders emergency care, without remuneration or expectation of remuneration, at the scene of an accident or emergency to a victim of the accident or emergency shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from the person’s acts or omissions, except for such damages as may result from the person’s gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions."
It also covers emergency responders and physicians, who act in "good faith": "No act or omission of any rescue team or physician working in direct communication with a rescue team operating in conjunction with a hospital or an authorized emergency vehicle of the hospital or the state or county, while attempting to resuscitate any person who is in immediate danger of loss of life, shall impose any liability upon the rescue team, the physicians, or the owners or operators of such hospital or authorized emergency vehicle, if good faith is exercised."
Among other provisions, it also specifically says a person trained to use automatic external defibrillators is not liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission while attempting to resuscitate someone in immediate danger when administering a defibrillator, except for gross negligence.
Here is a link to the law: 1.usa.gov/1xdCn5x.
Mahalo
To the dedicated men and women of the Kaneohe Fire Station and Emergency Response Team. Our family has called them several times in the past four months due to the failing health of my husband. Each responder has been consistently kind, patient and thorough. I realize they are doing their job, but the public often forgets what a critically important job that is, especially in non-emergency situations like ours have been. They are truly angels on earth. — Grateful Kaneohe Resident
Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
