Here's an opportunity where lawmakers have a chance to show leadership, by passing some legislation that may not be on the public's wish list but is in the public's best interest.

Taking a cue from the Honolulu City Council, the state Legislature is contemplating a statewide ban of disposable plastic bags commonly used in packaging groceries and other sundries at retail outlets. Late last year, the council proposed a similar ban that would apply only on O'ahu.

The city faces the most critical problem with its mountains of rubbish, its landfill kept open well past its prescribed limits. Reducing the volume of trash produced has to be part of the solution.

But other islands, with their rapidly growing populations, should adopt strategies now to avoid repeating the O'ahu experience down the road, so a statewide ban makes sense.

The House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee has deferred action on the bill until tomorrow. Its chairwoman, Rep. Hermina Morita, said the panel needs to weigh the effectiveness of current industry strategies: setting out collection bins for used bags and urging shoppers to knot the empty bag, helping to prevent its blowing away and into the litter stream.

Even if more retailers adopt this approach, it relies on the participation of shoppers, who have no real incentive to bring their bags back to the store.

How much better it would be to radically reduce the import of the bags to Hawai'i to begin with.

Lawmakers are also considering a ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam) food containers now used in restaurants and by other vendors. Styrofoam causes hazards in the environment, including the leaching of its toxic compounds into the water table.

That's not the stuff we should want in our landfills.

Ridding our environment of these wasteful conveniences will require a change in our habits. But it's possible and need not be costly. Big-box store shoppers already have adapted, using packing boxes to carry out groceries.

Many Mainland communities already are making these strides. Our island state, so painfully aware of its limited resources, should be at the head of the pack, not bringing up the rear.