US: Hawaii weighs first-in-nation plastic bans at restaurants | World News, The Indian Express

US: Hawaii weighs first-in-nation plastic bans at restaurants | World News, The Indian Express

By AP |Honolulu |Updated: March 19, 2019 12:07:32 pm

US: Hawaii weighs first-in-nation plastic bans at restaurants

Dozens of cities across the country have banned plastic foam containers, but Hawaii's measure would make it the first to do so statewide.

The Hawaii efforts would be stricter than in California, which last year became the first state to ban full-service restaurants from automatically giving out plastic straws, and broader than in Seattle, San Francisco and other cities that have banned some single-use plastics. (Representational Image)

Hawaii would be the first state in the US to ban most plastics at restaurants under legislation that aims to cut down on waste that pollutes the ocean.

Dozens of cities across the country have banned plastic foam containers, but Hawaii’s measure would make it the first to do so statewide.

The liberal state has a history of prioritising the environment — it’s mandated renewable energy use and prohibited sunscreen ingredients that harm coral.

A second, more ambitious proposal would go even further and prohibit fast-food and full-service restaurants from distributing and using plastic drink bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, bags and straws.