HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

43

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO INVESTIGATE HEALTH RISKS AND POTENTIAL ENERGY USES OF POLYSTYRENE FOOD CONTAINERS AND TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS AND GROCERY BAGS.

 

 


     WHEREAS, many types of everyday household products and materials are manufactured from various types of plastics; and

 

WHEREAS, polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer used in common plastic products; and

 

WHEREAS, grocery bags manufactured from low density polyethylene do not biodegrade naturally in landfills and when improperly disposed may enter the environment as litter and pose a hazard to marine wildlife, including entanglement and ingestion; and

 

WHEREAS, styrene is the pre-cursor to polystyrene, and is a clear colorless liquid that is derived from petroleum and natural gas by-products, but which also occurs naturally; and

    

     WHEREAS, styrene is used in the manufacture of many types of plastic materials, including food containers and packaging, computer parts, insulation, and automobile components; and

 

     WHEREAS, styrene can enter packaged foods by migration from polystyrene food containers and packaging materials, and test results are unclear as to whether the amount of styrene leaching increases when foods are heated in polystyrene containers; and

 

WHEREAS, human data from tests are insufficient to conclude that styrene, when ingested, is toxic to normal human growth and development; and

 

WHEREAS, Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS) has air inclusions (5% polystyrene/ 95% air) which give it moderate flexibility, a low density, and a low thermal conductivity, and due to its insulation properties, it can be used as a construction material, e.g., insulation, structural insulation panels, and non-weight-bearing architectural structures; and

 

WHEREAS, the cost of EPS is approximately 2-3 times less that of an equivalent disposable paper container and 4-5 times less than comparable reusable food service items when all costs(equipment, labor, water, electricity and detergent) are included; and

    

     WHEREAS, incinerated EPS converts to carbon dioxide, water vapor and a small amount of non-toxic ash; and

 

     WHEREAS, EPS that is converted from waste to energy at facilities, such as H-Power, generates large quantities of energy, approximately 16,000 BTU/pound, which is roughly twice the amount of energy generated from coal; and

    

WHEREAS, Honolulu may be the only county in the state currently capable of converting EPS from waste to energy; and

 

WHEREAS, improperly disposed polystyrene that enters the environment as litter can create health hazards for marine wildlife; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health (DOH) is requested to adopt rules requiring polystyrene food containers sold in the State to display a label that warns of the potential dangers of heating food in the container; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOH is requested to conduct a study, based on available research and data, that assesses the safety of polystyrene food containers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOH is requested to form a task force to establish minimum statewide standards for biodegradability for plastic grocery bags and food containers; and

 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOH is requested to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of diverting EPS from landfills to use as an energy resource for the State of Hawaii;

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOH is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Polystyrene; Food Containers; Grocery Bags; Safety