COM 0041.001 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ER Complaint - Missappropriation of State Glass Container Tax Page 6 County to entertain proposals from perspective bidders that were already set up w~:h those amenities to perform certain functions requested. The money that was to be made available should have been paid out as an award for providing those functions, not as a prepayment for amenities with no incentive for performing the intended functions or performance standards. In other words, the County will buy the perspective bidder a business and what they do with it is up to them. The County of Hawaii also set up the possibility for Contract 96112 to be renewed for two more years at the option of the County. (Special provisions page 1, item 2) The duration of the contract," is effective for a period of one year...renewal annually for two additional one year periods at option of the County". Renewal prospects increase for Recycling Systems of Hawaii due to the lopsided advantages created by RFP 1533 and reflected in Contract 96112. The County is using the State funds to set up one business in glass n3cyciing without going through a proper bidding process. With the liberal changes discussed above that business (Recycling System) avoids afl costly start up expenses. This company will have an unfair advantage over others that will have to pay for their own start up costs. This severely handicaps the rest of the industry and damages any opportunities the County envisions for comprehensive glass recycling programs. One industry, one business serve no useful purpose towards the intended end which is maximization of effort and opportunity. Further, the glass tax is to pay for glass containers from the general public. The budget in Contract 96112 spends all of the $216,000 on what is listed above, so where will the money come from to buy the glass. The County stated in their protest `denial' letter to Environmental Recycling, "the recipients of the recyGing funds are not able to receive diversion grants", which was $40 for glass on the Big Island. The State Glass Tax is to be specifically spent on buying glass from the public. So where is the money coming from if all of the Recycling Systems budget is already spent? Unfortuately, the awardee Recycling Systems of Hawaii recently was given the go ahead to spend the State tax even though Environmental Recycling and Big Island Recycle and Rubbish attempted to terminate the contract and develop a fair and equitable Big Island island-wide glass recycling program. At first Recycling Systems was not going to pay anything for the glass, but because of our continued pressure they now pay up to $40 per ton for glass containers, however Recycling Systems has set up a major bottleneck for the general public to participate. The company will accept a minimum of 200 pounds of glass from registered groups and vendors only and they must have proof of auto insurance before they enter their facility as well as sign a form to release Recycling Systems harmless from any accidents that