2006-01-AU Audit of the County of Hawai‘i's Recycling and Diversion Grants Program

Home

CHAPTER BACKGROUND County The County's "Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan" ( ISWMP) was adopted by the County Council on October 5, 1994 (in Resolution No. 291 -94). The Updated ISWMP was adopted by the Council on November 20, 2002 (in Resolution No. 238 -02), and approved by DOH on April 7, 2003. The stated objectives of the Updated ISWMP are to: • "Outline needed changes in Hawaii County's solid waste system; • Select systems and programs from available alternatives for solid waste management that will be cost - effective, efficient, and convenient for the users, and; • Outline the basic steps necessary to implement the needed changes in the system." The plan states: "This ISWMP is a general planning document to provide the basis for improving and updating the county's solid waste management system." Overview of County Facilities and Department of Environmental Management County Solid Waste Facilities The County's current solid waste handling infrastructure includes two landfills, the East Hawaii Landfill located in South Hilo and the West Hawaii Landfill located in Pu`uanahulu, and 21 convenience centers located throughout the County (See Exhibit 1.1). HAR §11-58.1-03 defines "convenience centers" as "waste handling facilities performing limited transfer station operation located at convenient areas receiving less than forty tons per day of only household or residential solid waste." Pursuant to HAR §11- 58.1 - 04(1)(1), 20 of the 21 convenience centers (commonly referred to as "transfer stations ") are currently permitted by DOH under "permit by rule" for solid waste handling and disposal facilities of limited impact. The Miloli`i Station is not currently permitted by DOH due to lack of zoning approvals for the site. The use of County "transfer stations" is limited to "household rubbish" or "household refuse." Hawaii County Code §20 -31 defines "transfer station" as "a facility designed to collect household rubbish from the surrounding community and to transport this refuse to a suitable disposal facility." It defines "household rubbish" as "all rubbish, including any material not exceeding four feet in length at its longest dimension, which is normally generated by a family's activities at their place of residence." Hawaii County Code §20- 43(b)(1) further provides: "(b) Acceptance at transfer stations. (1) All acceptable household refuse, including shrubbery and yard trimmings, deposited into the transfer station solid waste container shall be accepted by the County for disposal on any day during normal working hours of the station. No item shall exceed four feet in any dimension or weigh more than fifty pounds." 4