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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT / SOLID WASTE / <br /> WASTEWATER <br /> RECOMMENDATIONS: <br /> 1. County Council, the Office of the Mayor, and the Corporation Counsel should thoroughly <br /> evaluate the County's contract with Hawai`i Earth Recycling which is clearly wasting <br /> taxpayer dollars, is not producing the compost the contract describes, and isn'tefficiently <br /> processing the Big Island's green waste matter. The parties involved with this contract <br /> should re-negotiate a deal that is a more fiscally responsible use of taxpayers' funds while <br /> also being beneficial for the environment. <br /> 2. The answer to address some of our wastewater treatment plant issues lies in following the <br /> wisdom, success, and example of Public/Private Partnerships(PPP) as 0`ahu has <br /> implemented; as such, County resources should study those PPPs done elsewhere in the <br /> state to mirror their success here. Careful consideration of how to work within the <br /> confines of the Konno Decision should be pursued with the County, Corporation Counsel, <br /> Union labor partners, and private entities. <br /> EVALUATION: <br /> We interviewed Division of Environment Management(DEM)Director Ramzi Mansour three <br /> times and deployed a survey to DEM employees. (A summary of survey results can be found in <br /> Appendix C.) <br /> Throughout that analysis, the most egregious example of inefficiency is with the County's <br /> handling of green waste matter through its contracted vendor, Hawai`i Earth Recycling. <br /> Through our review and interviews, we also learned that the County is not as innovative and <br /> efficient as it could be with its waste facilities(solid waste and wastewater) in light of the Konno <br /> Decision. <br /> FINDINGS: <br /> Hawai`i Earth Recycling Contract <br /> During a previous administration,the County entered into a contract with Hawaii Earth <br /> Recycling (HER) to transform Hawaii County's green waste and food waste into compost for its <br /> residents. _ <br /> • This is a two-phase contract, Phase 1 —mulch operation and Phase 2—compost <br /> operation. <br /> • The County has indefinitely deferred Phase 2, the compost operation, while it does an <br /> evaluation of Hawai`i Island's organic waste quantities. <br /> • Thus, HER is not under an obligation to create compost at this time. <br /> 11 <br /> 2022 Cost of Government Commission—County of Hawai'i -Final Report <br />