Senator Gabbard Participates in Press Conference on Plastic Bag Bill

On February 9, 2012, the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment Chair Mike Gabbard participated in a press conference on Senate Bill 2511, relating to environmental protection. The purpose of the measure is to reduce the adverse impact of single-use checkout bag waste on Hawaii’s precious and unique natural environment by requiring businesses in the State to collect a fee for single-use checkout bags provided to customers. The bags require crude oil, a polluting fossil fuel, for their manufacture; pose serious health risks to protected sea turtles and marine mammals; contribute to unsightly litter; burden overcrowded landfills; are recycled minimally; contribute to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions; and are manufactured using large quantities of water and non-renewable energy. Money collected from the single-use bag fee will go towards funding programs to mitigate against damaging effects of single-use checkout bags.

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