COM 0000.000 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2.5 Problems Encountered and Lessons Learned Information and data presented in this section were taken from published data from KRRC contractors and vendors, from a limited traffic survey conducted by Recycle Hawaii, from a limited user survey conducted by RCAC, and from interviews with key persons conducted by RCAC. 2.5.1 Contamination. Contamination was a problem from the beginning, although it decreased with customer education efforts, improvements in signage, and increased staffing at KRRC. Contamination included: • Plastic bags, metal, and tires in the greenwaste bin. • Plastic bags in the plastics bin. • Motor vehicle parts containing used motor oil and other fluids in the scrap metal bin. • Bags of rubbish leR adjacent to recycling bins because people did not want to stop twice to unload. Paying the full tip fee on contaminants removed from recycling bins was a hazdship for vendors contracted to remove the materials from KRRC. Vendors had little or no control over the level of contamination in any given bin. Also, the level of contamination in bins varied widely and could not be predicted by vendors when they prepazed cost proposals to Recycle Hawaii. This is a difficult issue, especially in a dropoff environment, but one that must be resolved if the County intends to rely on private vendors to service its recycling centers. 2.5.2 Education. Educational workshops for adults were successful. Activities for keiki were less successful, perhaps because the site environment with its heavy traffic was not suitable for children. Jay West suggested that more workshops be offered, and that workshops could be a potential source of revenue. A permanent education center more remote from dust and noise sources such as traffic would enhance KRRC's ability to draw workshop participants. Due to liability issues, Recycle Hawaii was constrained by contract from allowing outsiders to sponsor events at KRRC, so was unable to meet demand for more workshops. KRRC appears to have potential for becoming a community focal point and gathering place for environmental activities and education, given proper facilities. It may also have potential as a cottage industry incubator site. Signs created by Jay West helped considerably with customer education by instructing people as to how and where to recycle various materials. Nelson Ho recommended more signs, specifically focusing on the why of recycling. The temporazy workshop azea was not secure enough. Some customers removed art work and workshop materials, appazently thinking they were free for the taking like items in the adjacent reuse center. 2.5.3 Eauiument. Several equipment problems/needs were noted: • Lack of spaze or backup bins resulted in bans on dumping materials for approximately four hours whenever a full bin was hauled out. 10