HCC §20-05-03
Who is excused from the plastic bag rules
Read the official text at hawaiicounty.gov ↗This section lists who does not have to follow the plastic bag rules. Some food packaging and reusable coolers are automatically excused. The director or mayor can also excuse certain vendors or county users in special cases, like hardship or emergencies, for a limited time.
counties
The ordinance, as written (Hawaiʻi County) — Exemptions
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by Hawaiʻi County is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) The following are exempt from the provisions of this article: (1) Foods packaged outside the limits of the County of Hawai‘i; (2) Coolers and ice chests that are intended for reuse; and (3) Food packaging for raw: meat; poultry; seafood; and eggs that have not been further processed. (b) County facility users and food vendors. (1) The director may exempt a food vendor or County facility user from the provisions of this article, in a situation where compliance with the terms of this article would result in undue hardship. The exemption shall be in place for a period of time not to exceed one hundred eighty days. (2) Undue hardship includes, but is not limited to, situations unique to the food vendor or County facility user that generally do not apply to other persons in similar circumstances. SUPP. 9 (1-2021) 20-8 INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT § 20-05-03 (3) Food vendors and County facility users seeking an exemption from the requirements of this article shall provide all required information on an application for exemption, including but not limited to, documentation supporting the applicant’s claim that compliance with this article will result in undue hardship. (4) The director may approve or deny an exemption request in whole or in part. Applicants may appeal the director’s decision to the commission. (5) All exemptions shall be promptly posted on the County website for the department of environmental management as a notice of temporary exemption. (c) Emergency supplies or services procurement. The mayor may exempt County facility users and food vendors from the provisions of this article, in a situation deemed by the mayor to be an emergency that necessitates such exemption in order to preserve the public peace, health, and safety. The exemption shall be in place until the mayor determines that the emergency situation has ceased and the exemption is no longer needed to preserve the public peace, health, and safety. (2020, ord 20-86, sec 3.) 20-05-03 Article 6. Plastic Bag Reduction.
Published by the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the County Clerk.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.