Influential Supporters of Hawaii's Bottle Bill Honored with Prestigious EPA Award

HONOLULU -- Four local individuals who played key roles in ensuring passage of a statewide beverage container deposit law in 2002 were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 9 in June 2003.  The four Hawaii recipients of the Pacific Southwest Region Environmental Awards were among 35 awardees selected from more than 200 nominations from California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, and tribal lands.
Wayne Nastri, EPA Region 9 Administrator, presented the awards at EPA's 22^nd Annual Pacific Island Environment Conference.  The program read, "Rep. Hermina Morita (D-Hanalei), Suzanne Jones (Honolulu Department of Environmental Services), Gretchen Ammerman (Hawaii Department of Health) and Jeff Mikulina (Director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter) are the main reasons why Hawaii became the 11^th state to pass a container deposit law or 'bottle bill,' and the first state to pass a bottle bill in 16 years.  The new law will help to conserve Hawaii's limited resources and make beverage producers responsible for their packaging waste."
Hawaii's bottle bill, signed into law by former Governor Cayetano in June 2003, will be implemented January 1, 2005.  The law will place a refundable nickel deposit on all glass, plastic and aluminum beverage containers.  The nickels will be returned when consumers bring the empty containers back for recycling.
"It's an honor to be receiving recognition from the U.S. EPA for our grass

From left: Wayne Nastri (USEPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator), Suzanne Jones (Honolulu Department of Environmental Services), Gretchen Ammerman (Hawaii  Department of Health), Rep. Hermina Morita (D-Hanalei), Jeff Mikulina (Director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter).

roots efforts on the bottle bill," said Mikulina.  "The bottle bill enjoyed support from the majority of the public, all four counties, community groups, and recycling companies.  Now, the Bush Administration is recognizing the benefits of a bottle law.  All we are missing is Governor Lingle's support."
Lingle sought to repeal the bottle bill through legislation in 2003, but her proposals did not receive hearings.  A bill that would have clarified some portions of the bottle bill passed the legislature this year, but was vetoed by the governor just one week prior to the EPA award.
"It is unfortunate that Governor

Lingle vetoed HB 1456, a measure which would have made a good law even better," said Rep. Hermina Morita.  "Her veto message read like the National Soft

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