2002-06-26 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes

Home

NEW BUSINESS 7. Discussion on Kauai Solid Waste Facility (by Allison Fraley, Kauai Recycling Coordinator) Allison Fraley, Kauai Recycling Coordinator, discussed KauaiÓs r waste diversion. She was hired as a contractor to open the Kauai Resource Center which was built with Hurricane Iniki federal EDA grant funding. The facility was built for the purpose of reuse. Ms. Fraley changed the scope of the project from being solely reuse to being a full loop waste diversion facility (reuse, recycling, waste diversion education, recycled glass). Due to the expiration of the grant funds, equipment had to be purchased before a contractor was in place. Reuse/recycling proposals were not received. A portion of the space at the facility is reserved for reuse. Ordered $80,000 of equipment for the glass shop to produce the high end recycled, manufactured product from glass. The Resource Center is where the public will be educated about recycled products. KauaiÓs Recycle Program has been in place for 10 years. A private contractor has seven drop bins throughout the island and is accepting cardboard, newspaper, glass and aluminum. Kauai County is currently collecting 14 tons/month of corrugated cardboard, 26 tons/month of newspaper, 26 tons/month of glass and one ton/month of aluminum. One contractor is a sand blasting company and Kauai County pays them $200/ton at 50 tons/month. They provide a free commercial service for pickup of glass from bars and restaurants because their incentive is the $200/ton. Ms. Fraley also developed a home composting program which is an important part of waste diversion. The County purchased 670 Earth Machine home composting bins. They are about 3 ft high and 3 ft wide and are given out for free at recycling public education events. The bins are made of recycled plastic, have UV protectors and last 10 years. As part of that program, Ms. Fraley did a Master Composter training course in which 44 people were trained to be Master Composters and trained to teach other people to compost. The County provides an annual collection of Household Hazardous Waste. As part of the Greenwaste Diversion Program, the County accepts greenwaste from residents at no cost, grinds it, and gives it to the public which diverts 10,000 tons/year. The School Education Program consists of tours of the facility, giving out composting bins, and giving out curriculum. The County has a used motor oil recycling program where used oil from residents is accepted at the transfer stations. The County has 800 oil drainer containers to give away. The most expensive program is the Kauai Recycles Program (the bin system). The County is currently paying $250,000/year for the 60 tons/month of material that is being collected. The high cost is due to a lack of competition. The Resource Center is paying the County $800/month to occupy that space. All other costs are very minimal. Ms. Fraley started a Waste Diversion Grant Program this year in the amount of $10,000. Ms. Fraley discussed the keys to successful recycling and waste diversion programs. Reuse will consist of packaging materials and boxes. Island Recycling is taking pallets. They ship them to Oahu and repair them and redistribute them. The County is contracting with a private operator to run the glass processing. It appears that they will be self sufficient. They will basically produce one ton of glass product per month. The County has a mobile grinder that is run at no cost for residential greenwaste. Commercial greenwaste is accepted, but there is a charge. The tipping fee at the landfill is $56.00/ton. There is a coupon system at the transfer stations. New businesses are doing a bi-monthly curbside recycling pickup. Discussion on Greenwaste Program, Commercial and Residential Larry Capellas stated that greenwaste makes up approximately 10% of what is going into the East HawaiÒi Landfill. Greenwaste could possibly be suitable for daily landfill cover rather than crushed -3-