Haste makes waste took on a new meaning at the April 18 Bainbridge Island City Council meeting.

In its haste to protect the environment, the council may have gone too far too fast. It admitted as such at the meeting, pulling back on some of its waste reduction requirements for businesses.

For example, BI will likely repeal the 25-cent fee for disposable cups.

The Waste Reduction Ad Hoc Committee is making that recommendation and others based on community feedback. The fee would be replaced by a voluntary and incentive program.

Councilmembers Kirsten Hytopoulos, Joe Deets and Mayor Brenda Fantroy-Johnson were on that ad hoc committee.

Hytopoulos said the business owners were pretty tough on them. Deets agreed their comments were “eye-opening and candid.”

The business owners think we weren’t listening to them, that they “never are being heard,” Fantroy-Johnson added.

She said by doing an about-face on some of the laws: “It shows we were listening. The changes go straight to the heart of their heartburn.”

Deets said the council learned a lot about the effects of a law once they pass it. Councilmember Leslie Schneider noted they learned they can be ambitious about attacking an issue, but then also pull back very quickly if there is damage.

Deets said while there were focus groups he wished they had talked to the business owners sooner.

But Hytopoulos said they were involved from the start. But they didn’t know until the law was enacted what a burden the laws would be on them and their staff. “It wasn’t willy-nilly, a stab in the dark,” she said of the waste reduction laws passed to protect the environment.

Everyone had to find out what environmentally friendly alternatives were available to businesses. Those products still must be used. And more products will be added yearly to the list as they become readily available. “It’s a dynamic area of industry,” Hytopoulos said. “We’re going to see more and more of this type of product.”

She added that the business community does seem to want to be part of a larger effort. “They want to be part of something they can be proud of,” she said. “But they want to be partners — not something forced on them beyond their comfort level.”

As for the waste reduction committee, it also suggests using a phased approach to home compostables to reduce staff time. A list of specific items will be published and periodically added to. Also recommended is to expand and modernize solid waste services, create an incentive program and clarify what the goals are to enhance usability. Any changes will require re-education for businesses and customers.

City manager Blair King said staff will come back May 9 with a draft ordinance.