Kauai Recycling and Reusable Grocery Bags

In an ongoing effort to reduce waste, Kauai is distributing 25,000 reusable shopping bags to residents free of charge. These bags are made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, washable, durable, and hold a large volume of groceries.

In October of 2009, the County of Kauai passed the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance requiring all retail establishments to provide only recyclable paper bags, biodegradable bags, and/or reusable bags to their customers. Retailers are allowed to recover the cost of bags by charging customers. This new law will take effect on January 11th, 2011.

Kauai residents are entitled to two free canvas reusable shopping bags until the supply runs out. The criteria to receive free bags requires individuals to:

• be a Kauai resident
• sign a pledge stating that they would use the bags in place of disposable paper or plastic bags while grocery shopping
• use the honor system of taking only 2 bags per person
• read the sheet describing the product they are using

The bags will be available at these partnering stores soon:
Big Save – Hanalei, Kapa‘a, Lihue, Koloa, Waimea, ‘Ele‘ele
Papaya’s – Hanalei, Kapa‘a
Foodland – Hanalei, Kapa‘a
Healthy Hut – Kilauea
Kilauea Market – Kilauea
Kojima Store – Kapa‘a
Hoku Whole Foods – Kapa‘a
Safeway – Kapa‘a
Times Supermarket – Lihue
Sueoka Store – Koloa
Kukui‘ula Market – Koloa
Ishihara Market – Waimea
Menehune Food Mart – Kekaha, Kalaheo, Lawai
Thrifty Mart – Kekaha, Kaumakani

For more information, visit the county’s Kauai recycling website.