Hawaii’s largest city, Honolulu, passed a bill banning plastic food containers, straws, and most plastic utensils on the island of Oahu. The new law is the strictest ban on single-use plastics that the country has ever seen. This move should make a significant difference, as up to 70% of the Hawaiian residents live in Oahu.
The legislation will proceed in phases, with polystyrene foam banned first in 2021, then disposable plastics will be banned in 2022. To pass Bill 40, which prohibits restaurants and businesses in Honolulu county from serving beverages and food with plastics or foam. The Honolulu City Council had to vote, thankfully, the votes were in favor of banning plastics with the council voting 7-2.
Previously, Honolulu lawmakers and Maui County, including the islands of Molokai and Maui, banned foam containers, but it didn’t include plastic utensils. In 2015, Honolulu county banned plastic bags in grocery stores. At that time, Hawaii became the only state to completely ban plastic bags.
The United States is increasingly reducing its use of disposable plastics. Hawaii’s efforts are part of a growing wave across the entire country. At least 34 states out of 52 have already passed or considered actions that ban or discourage polystyrene foam, single-use plastic bags, and single-use plastic utensils.
Out of all these eco-friendly states, California has been one step ahead of the anti-plastic game. In 2014, California passed a statewide ban on plastic bags at large retail stores. Then in the November 2016 ballot, a referendum forced the issue where it moved to remain in effect. In April 2019, New York passed a similar measure. However, few governments have equally strict bans that cover such a wide range of products, such as this one in Honolulu.
