The county of Maui, from the 1st of March 2022, does not allow food providers to sell plastic disposable food ware

The county of Maui wants to reduce the use of plastic foodware because it can harm the marine and avian communities. People consume micro-plastic through the food they use using plastic foodware. Stop the production and usage of single-use plastics, affecting the environment and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

The county of Maui passed the plastic disposable food ware ban ordinance No. 5084 on March 1 2022. To this day, food businesses cannot sell plastic disposable foodware. There are some exemptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To become a circular island, the county of Maui created the BYO – Bring Your Own! Campaign. The county encourages people to bring their alternative plastic foodware, such as stainless steel, ceramic or wood products, with this campaign. The county encourages people to reuse their foodware to help achieve zero waste. At this moment, they want to become a zero-waste island and set the fundamentals to start a circular economy. Banning the usage of plastic foodware makes their forests, shorelines and ocean cleaner and plastic-free.

There will not be a plastic waste on the shorelines, beaches, and other parts of the island in the long term. The people and animals will be not in danger of consuming micro-plastic. The alternative usage of plastic components such as bamboo straws will help achieve zero waste in Maui County. By making effective the plastic disposable foodware ban ordinance No. 5084, the county of Maui is taking the first step in their circular economy plan.