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

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CHAPTER 2 GENERAL FINDINGS Accurate evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of current solid waste management systems and special programs cannot presently be accomplished due to lack of verifiable data related to: • Outsourced Diversion and Recycling Programs o Poorly formulated vendor requirements and procedures and inadequate control measures do not ensure the accuracy of data collected or permit the corroboration of quantities and weights claimed as diverted. Transfer Stations • While the Updated ISWMP states that at least 42 percent of the County's solid waste disposed of at landfills is collected at transfer stations, the County has not designated the upgrading of transfer stations as a high budget priority. The County needs to demonstrate its commitment by implementing a viable solution for segregation, reduction, diversion, and recycling of the County's waste stream. • Banned and recyclable wastes continue to be disposed of in collection trailers, and subsequently transferred to landfills due to: ■ Inadequate or non - existent receptacles to collect recyclables and segregate hazardous or banned wastes, exposing the entire waste stream to contamination with hazardous materials. ■ No monitoring of wastes disposed. ■ No sorting of wastes presented in plastic bags. ■ No regular staffing or security at transfer sites. Recommendations 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. o 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. • Specific goals pertaining to solid waste reduction, recycling, and diversion, and specific timelines for attaining said goals. 14