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<br />b. Presentation by Megan Lamson Leatherman of the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund <br />regarding their recycled plastics demonstration project on Kauaʻi (waste to <br />useable retail product). <br /> <br /> Ms. Leatherman thanked Commissioner Gaffney and Chair Bennett for inviting her to <br />speak about plastic pollution and marine debris. She passed out information on ByFusion, <br />which makes blocks from plastic marine debris and household waste, and an article about a <br />building on Kauaʻi that was made with it. <br /> <br /> Highlights of her presentation: <br /> <br />• She is a marine biologist with a master’s degree in conservation biology from UH- <br />Hilo. <br />• She is not affiliated with ByFusion but feels their ByBlock product is a great <br />solution. <br />• She works with the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, which is a small non-profit organization <br />dedicated to native wildlife. <br />• The Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund has spent 16 years on the Big Island removing massive <br />amounts of marine debris from the shorelines. It has totaled 282 tons since 2003. <br />• This year alone they have removed over 50,000 pounds of plastic pollution, half of <br />which is derelict fishing nets and line bundles, and the other half is mixed plastic <br />pollution. <br />• They have hosted 64 clean-up events this year and retrieve about 800 pounds per <br />event. <br />• In combination and collaboration with their partners, Surfrider Foundation on <br />Kauaʻi and teams on Maui, they are picking up a whole lot of plas?c. <br />• She showed the commissioners a ByBlock made of fishing nets and mixed waste; <br />this kind of block is a potential solution for disposal of some of the non-recyclable <br />plastic and marine debris. <br />• The blocks could be a creative solution to the vast amounts of mixed plastic waste. <br />The blocks are quite heavy and are just one potential product of the company. <br />• She explained how the blocks are made and how they can be used. <br />• She flew to Kauaʻi to look at a permanent athle?c pavilion made out of ByBlock. <br />There are potential applications for the blocks on the island. However, the use of <br />plastic still needs to be greatly reduced. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Cardwell said the blocks seem brilliant and could be a way to make plastic <br />a valuable material. <br /> <br /> Discussion was held on permitting issues for the blocks and how to capture the plastic in <br />the ocean. <br /> <br /> The commissioners thanked Ms. Leatherman for her presentation. <br /> <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />