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P/K N O O G~ March 9, 2007 C0 -'O County Council Chair and C Hawaii County Council Members County of Hawai'i 25 Aupuni Street T) Hilo, Hi 96720 Re: Testimony for Reso. 551-08 _ 3 Dear Honorable Council Members: rv cry Just about one year ago, I wrote to you regarding the Council's consideration of a Waste-to- Energy (WfE) proposal. That letter was dated April 24, 2007 (copy attached). In that letter, I referred to the question asked in the Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) flyer entitled, °Opala-to-Electricity: Is It a Good Idea for Hawai'i County?" Considering the public opposition via editorials in the newspaper, communications to you via phone and email, visits to your office and old-fashioned letters like these from constituents, once again, the answer to that question should be a resounding *NO." To invest and maintain a WTE facility, such as the one Wheelabrator is proposing, would be shortsighted and fiscally irresponsible for our County. As some of you may know, I was employed by the County as one of two Recycling Specialists to help implement the H15/Bottle Bill recycling program for Hawaii County. I left that employment at the end of December 2007. During my 3 years with DEM, I became very familiar with landfills, transfer stations, recycling efforts and other solid waste issues, not only on this Island but Statewide and Nationwide, as well. That is why I believe that investing in WTE at this time is shortsighted. One fact that should be reiterated is that no new operations (WTE) have been built since 1995' (RW Beck presentation to HI Island Chamber of Commerce, April 4, 2007.) Would you buy a 1995 car in 2008? Wheelabrator's time has passed. New and more efficient technologies for waste disposal are being tested. In the meantime, extending the Hilo landfill Qined and EPA approved) could sustain us for many years as new waste technology options come to fruition. If we truly think about a long-term trash disposal solution for our Island, then we should build on the facts: many disposable materials can now be recovered as resources that can provide jobs, new products and money circulating around the Island. In addition, The County adopted a Zero Waste resolution in Fall 2007 (Reso. 356-07) that supports this concept. Zero Waste as you recall is contrary to the option of incineration. The increased recycling areas at transfer stations by Hawai'i County over the past several years have been embraced by our many communities - and citizens want more opportunities to recycle. Recycling and reuse facilities have also provided not only jobs, but also useable items for many residents. Why would we then opt to incinerate the very "resources` that have been such a boon for our public? As you know, the WTE needs `fuel' and if they don't get enough to bum, then the County could possibly haul some of Kona Coast resort trash to Hilo just to feed this dragon. There was also talk that the WTE would bum green waste as fuel. Again, the green waste facilities here on the Big Island have been a boon for property owners and fanners. Green waste is turned into valuable mulch and soil enhancement for our soil depleted planting areas. It doesn't make sense to bum up this essential resource. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the reported estimated price tag of $128million plus to build and maintain a WTE is exorbitant. DEM's 2007 glossy flyer states, 'the (WTE) proposals will give us a good idea of the cost of building the facility - the County has estimated $30-$40 million.' How can you even consider such an outlandish price tag of $128million, when just a year ago, the price the County was willing to consider was 300% less than what it is today? Such outrageous costs could strap future generations with a huge financial burden. Comm. No. 0 =c 5 Ref. To: Pf@twt Ref. Date MAR • 1 ZOO