A measure introduced in the state Legislature would ban the sale and distribution of small, single-use plastic bottles.
House Bill 1706 would apply to bottles designed to hold 16 ounces or less.
It aims to reduce plastic pollution in the islands and ocean. One environmental group asked the bill be more specific.
"I didn’t really get that this was confined just to beverages. I gather that's the intent perhaps. It says plastic bottle or rigid plastic container filled with fluid – so that could include things like soy sauce, liquid soap, bleach, isopropyl alcohol, shampoo, laundry liquid, syrup, etc.," said Suzanne Frazer, co-founder of Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaiʻi. "So I think this bill needs some rewriting,"
The House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection deferred action on the measure Thursday.
