ROH §34-13.4
Ban on selling foam and plastic food ware
Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗Businesses in Honolulu cannot sell most foam or plastic food containers and utensils. There are exceptions for raw meat, seafood, eggs, and prepackaged food. A business can ask for an exemption if it can show no alternatives exist or compliance would cause major hardship.
businesses
The ordinance, as written (Honolulu County) — Ban on sale of polystyrene foam food ware, disposable plastic service ware, and disposable plastic food ware
A copy, taken August 22, 2026. The version published by Honolulu is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) A business within the city may not sell polystyrene foam food ware, disposable plastic service ware, or disposable plastic food ware, except for:
(1) Packaging for raw meat, raw poultry, raw seafood, unprepared produce, and uncooked eggs;
(2) Packaging for prepackaged food and shelf stable food; and
(3) Non-compliant products sold to a food vendor who has been granted an exemption for said products under § 34-13.3 .
(b) The department may grant an exemption from compliance with the prohibitions of this section upon application and the provision of sufficient evidence that there are no reasonable alternatives available to the business to comply, or compliance with the prohibition would cause significant hardship for the business.
For purposes of this subsection, exemptions may be granted for a specified term of up to two years, and may be subsequently renewed for specified terms of up to two years thereafter, provided that during the term of the exemption, diligent efforts are made by the business to become compliant.
Published by the City and County of Honolulu through American Legal Publishing.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.