A bill now being considered by the Hawaii legislature would prohibit lodging establishments from providing personal care products in small plastic bottles within sleeping room accommodations, any space within sleeping room accommodations, or bathrooms used by the public or guests. The bill, HG 1645, establishes fines and civil penalties for those who do not comply.
According to the bill, the use of single—use toiletries in hotels and other lodging establishments contributes to plastic waste locally and globally. California and New York have recently passed laws that prohibit hotels, bed and breakfast homes, and short-term vacation rentals from providing single-use personal care products and instead encourage these establishments to incorporate bulk personal care products as an alternative.
If passed, the law would begin on January 1, 2024, for lodging establishments with more than fifty sleeping room accommodations; and on January 1, 2025, for lodging establishments with fifty or fewer sleeping room accommodations. There would be fines for those properties that do not comply.
“Small plastic bottle” means a plastic bottle or container with less than a six-ounce capacity that is intended to be nonreusable by the end user.
Hotels and hotel companies have been rolling out many initiatives to reduce the use of single-use plastics. It is good to see one more state trying to make the elimination of single-use amenity bottles mandatory.
To follow the progress of the Hawaii bill, click here.
