2022 Report of the Cost of Government Commission

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT / SOLID WASTE / WASTEWATER RECOMMENDATIONS: County Council, the Office of the Mayor, and the Corporation Counsel should thoroughly evaluate the County's contract with Hawai` i Earth Recycling which is clearly wasting taxpayer dollars, is not producing the compost the contract describes, and isn't efficiently processing the Big Island's green waste matter. The parties involved with this contract should re -negotiate a deal that is a more fiscally responsible use of taxpayers' funds while also being beneficial for the environment. 2. The answer to address some of our wastewater treatment plant issues lies in following the wisdom, success, and example of Public/Private Partnerships (PPP) as Oahu has implemented; as such, County resources should study those PPPs done elsewhere in the state to mirror their success here. Careful consideration of how to work within the confines of the Konno Decision should be pursued with the County, Corporation Counsel, Union labor partners, and private entities. EVALUATION: We interviewed Division of Environment Management (DEM) Director Ramzi Mansour three times and deployed a survey to DEM employees. (A summary of survey results can be found in Appendix C.) Throughout that analysis, the most egregious example of inefficiency is with the County's handling of green waste matter through its contracted vendor, Hawaii Earth Recycling. Through our review and interviews, we also learned that the County is not as innovative and efficient as it could be with its waste facilities (solid waste and wastewater) in light of the Konno Decision. FINDINGS: Hawai `i Earth Recycling Contract During a previous administration, the County entered into a contract with Hawai `i Earth Recycling (HER) to transform Hawaii County's green waste and food waste into compost for its residents. • This is a two-phase contract, Phase 1 — mulch operation and Phase 2 — compost operation. • The County has indefinitely deferred Phase 2, the compost operation, while it does an evaluation of Hawaii Island's organic waste quantities. • Thus, HER is not under an obligation to create compost at this time. 11 2022 Cost of Govemment Commission —County of Hawai'i - Final Report