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2019 Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Update <br />County of Hawaii <br />a permanent recycling and transfer station in Ocean View. Although great progress has been <br />made, the need to improve facilities with major engineering deficiencies still remains. <br />2019 Plan <br />With the closure of SHSL and the shipment of residuals to WHSL, the current deteriorating global <br />recycling market, new facilities (reuse and compost facilities), and fiscal concerns, this Plan update <br />focuses on waste diversion, with an emphasis on education, outreach, and public awareness. Outside of <br />maintaining or improving existing facilities, this Plan does not generally recommend the construction of <br />costly new facilities or operations. Instead, the County will assess how the existing facilities and <br />programs are functioning followed by a study to identify a solution that best suits the current and <br />projected future conditions. This includes seeking joint solutions with state and other Hawaiian <br />jurisdictions. For example, with the current market for plastics, the County has eliminated all plastics <br />(except for qualifying deposit beverage containers) from the recycling program. If the County were to <br />coordinate and negotiate with the City and County of Honolulu, there may be a temporary solution that <br />keeps these formerly recyclable materials out of the landfill until market conditions change. <br />FS.5 Consequences of inaction <br />This Plan update outlines a series of options for the County during the next 10 -year implementation <br />period. Some of these programs may be challenging and perhaps even controversial because they <br />require changes to ingrained behaviors and increased costs. The status quo is not sustainable for a <br />variety of reasons—notably market conditions, aging infrastructure, fiscal responsibilities, and <br />environmental impacts. Some consequences of inaction would include the following: <br />• The County's recycling and transfer stations would continue to deteriorate resulting in reduced <br />service and potential public safety concerns. <br />• No further progress would be made in providing additional waste reduction, recycling, or reuse <br />services that are desired by many County residents. <br />• No significant progress would be made in further reducing waste sent to the WHSL, thus <br />resulting in a missed opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the toxicity of <br />waste materials sent to the County's sole landfill. <br />• The WHSL would fill up faster. <br />The County's proposed strategy of incrementally pursuing waste reduction and diversion with continued <br />local landfilling of residuals will result in decisions that best serve the needs for generations to come. <br />FS.6 Summary of Recommendations <br />The primary purpose of the Plan is to develop waste management strategies through the period of 2019 <br />to 2029. The County developed these through careful consideration by the County's SWAC, which <br />comprises representatives from various stakeholders. In total, 84 recommendations covering nine solid <br />waste management programs were identified. <br />The SWAC categorized 83 recommendations (and supporting implementation strategies) as high, <br />moderate, or low to provide the County DEM feedback on the solid waste planning initiatives that are <br />important to them as representatives of the community. [Note: One recommendation was added in <br />response to a comment provided during the public hearing process and was not rated.] <br />ES -4 August 2020 <br />