2020-08-26 EMC Meeting Agenda and Director's Informational Report

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Electronic Waste and Television Recycling & Recovery Act mandatory take-back provisions. A stronger state EPR law requiring convenient on-island manufacturer sponsored take-back should be considered. • Although DOH awarded the county grant funds for FY21, this funding is insufficient to completely fund the program. There is no county funding allocated in the budget; the lack of funding forced SWD to suspend the program from the end of March through the end of the fiscal year. • SWD’s Recycling Section will be redesigning the program to utilize only the funding from the DOH and to no longer rely on General Funds to support it. The redesign may require providing less services to the public. F. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW): • The HHW collection event was successfully held on 08/01/20 in Hilo at Waiākea High School, and the scheduled 08/08/20 event at Kealakehe High School was postponed. More information is available at http://www.hazardouswaste.org /recycle/household-hazardous-waste/. • The IFB 3847 contract extension for HHW Collection Events expires 07/31/21. • SWD has reduced the quantity and frequency of these events in light of reduced county funding and issues coordinating these events at schools closed during COVID-19. G. GREENWASTE DIVERSION: • The State Department of Agriculture finalized a permanent rule (HAR § 4-72-13) prohibiting the interisland transport of ‘ōhi‘a plant material to prevent the spread of Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death caused by Ceratocystis lukuohia or Ceratocystis huliohia. They also recommend not transporting ‘ōhi‘a plant material from an infected area to a non-infected area. DEM has recommended that people not bring any ‘ōhi‘a plant material to our greenwaste collection sites and recommends composting on-site. • The county’s contract with Hawaiian Earth Recycling continues greenwaste recycling. Enhanced mulch is available at the East Hawai‘i Organics Facility. The mulch is treated for invasive species at EHOF since the modified State Department of Health permit was issued. SWD relocated the greenwaste recycling at the Waimea Recycling and Transfer Station to make it more convenient for residents. • New greenwaste drop-off guidelines for recycling and transfer stations were implemented on 07/08/19. The new requirements address the number of loads, load sizes, and greenwaste dimensions. For more information go to http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/greenwaste/. • Starting in September 2020, residential customers can pick up mulch from the East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility during the first Saturday of the month for free. Each customer may obtain a maximum load of 3 cubic yards of mulch. Both mechanical and self-loading is available. Customers may obtain only one load per month while supplies last. 5