2009-01-AU Follow-up Review of the 2006 Audit of the Department of Environmental Management's Recycling and Diversion Grants Program

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RECOMMENDATIONS - GENERAL FINDINGS RECOMMENDATIONS — GENERAL FINDINGS General Findings Recommendation #1 We recommend that the Mayor and County Council, in consultation with DEM, revise and adhere to the Updated ISWMP as the long -term plan for addressing the County's solid waste streams. • There needs to be a County -wide commitment for implementation of and adherence to a long -term solid waste management plan on the part of all stakeholders, including the Mayor, DEM, County Council, and the recycling public, regardless of changes in elected officials. The County should consider codifying the "agreed" upon long -term solid waste management plan. If the Updated ISWMP is to represent the County's strategic plan for solid waste management, it needs to be further updated and revised to address at a minimum: The priority, in quantifiable measures, of recycling and diversion in the County's solid waste management system. o Specific goals pertaining to solid waste reduction, recycling, and diversion, and specific timelines for attaining said goals. DEM Response The ISWMP is currently going through an update. Consultant CH2M Hill has been hired and started the update process in the April 2008. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) was created, chaired by former DEM Director, Barbara Bell. We have conducted eight SWAC meetings and two series of public meetings. In addition to the SWAC meetings, the presentation is on the agenda for the County Council Environment Committee Meetings to keep the Council informed and current on the ISWMP as it is being developed. We anticipate an 18 month process to finalize a draft Update which will be submitted to the County Council and the Mayor for their approval. The Update will then be submitted to the State Department of Health for their review and approval. The Department is considering several approval options, such as preparation of an ordinance to adopt and adhere to the updated ISWMP. The chapters are available at the DEM website for public input and review. http: //www.co.hawaii.hi.us /env mnq /iswmp.htm. The chapters include: 1. Waste stream assessment 2. Source reduction 3. Public education and information 4. Recycling, bioconversion and marketing 5. Household hazardous waste and E -waste 6. Special waste 7. Collection and transfer 8. Residuals management 9. Administration and funding 10. Recommendations and implementation LAO Follow -Up DEM has complied with portions of this recommendation by requiring that its ISWMP consultant conduct public meetings and provide monthly reports to the Council in an effort to obtain input from key stakeholders. However, full implementation of this recommendation goes beyond DEM's purview and requires a commitment on the part of County government. Changing priorities of prior Mayoral administrations and Councils have created a continually moving target for DEM in its attempt to formulate a long -term plan to address the County's solid waste problems and maintain a clear vision