Kaiser Permanente Hawaii announced Wednesday that its locations statewide will no longer provide plastic bags to its patients.
Reusable and biodegradable paper bags will be used instead, the health organization said.
Officials said the Hawaii region is Kaiser Permanente’s first in the nation to initiate the bag ban.
“We are proud to do our part to help reduce plastic waste and the damaging effects it has on our environment,” said Mike Hasselle, supply chain director for the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region. “It is past time that communities as a whole, move away from plastic bag usage and toward a more sustainable and healthy practice.”
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A ban on single-use plastic bags has been instituted by four Hawaii counties, including Hawaii County.
However, the Big Island ban won’t be fully implemented until Jan. 17, 2014. In the meantime, retailers are allowed to provide the bags for a fee.
Oahu’s ban goes into effect on July 1, 2015.
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The state Legislature is currently considering imposing a 10-cent fee statewide for any type of single-use bags, be they plastic or paper.
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