2020-01-22 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Any plans to take these things and burn them or hydrolyze them will be met with strong opposition from the zero waste community. • She strongly supports “EPR,” or extended producer responsibility, and the DOH is also in favor of it. • Recycle Hawaiʻi and other nonproﬁts are here to a?ract private funding. They are in a position to take on risks that DEM cannot take on. They are here to partner with DEM, and DEM needs to take advantage of them. • Reduced packaging is a future they should be looking toward. b. Continued discussion on the status of the County of Hawaiʻi’s recycling contract and review of commissioners’ lists of ideas and options. Chair Bennett asked if any commissioners had made a list, but no one had. He said he met with Councilmember Richards earlier this morning, and they spoke on a variety of subjects, one of which was gasification and incineration of waste. Councilmember Richards was not necessarily for it, although he is aware other areas do it at a net loss in order to reduce the footprint. Chair Bennett informed him the EMC did not appear to be in favor of incineration for a variety of reasons, so perhaps it could be taken off the table. Commissioner Adams said incineration if not a panacea, but it is an option to look at. If it is done right, pollution control exists to deal with emissions, and there is also emerging technology being piloted in various places. Chair Bennett said she is probably correct, but in the real world application of technology, things often fall apart. Carefulness is needed. c. Continued discussion on the Commission’s research into alternatives to centralized treatment plants and long sewer lines, and review of a motion drafted by Vice Chair Olson encouraging the County Council to look at how septic systems and/or sewage treatment can be improved. Chair Bennett asked Vice Chair Olson if he had done anything on this, and Vice Chair Olson said he had spoken to a few councilmembers. It comes down to the money. The waste systems are overburdened, there is a lack of personnel, and more waste is coming as the population continues to expand. Chair Bennett said when he raised the issue with councilmembers, they boomeranged it back to him and said the EMC should educate and inform them. There does not appear to be initiative on the Council’s part to study this. Vice Chair Olson said the situation is not going to get easier. His district, which has 60,000 vacant lots, will be growing in population. Everyone has a right to a certain level of service, and the county has is not prepared to deliver the level of service to all the lots they created. Chair Bennett noted the second part of this item was to encourage the County Council to look at how septic systems or sewage treatment can be improved. Septic and sewage