Integrated Resources & Solid Waste Management Plan Update - Dec 2009

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4.0 RECYCLING, BIOCONVERSION, AND MARKETS 4.3.1.8 Fats, Oils, and Grease Program The Hilo and Kealakehe Recycling and Transfer Stations accept waste cooking oil and FOGs from permitted haulers. The waste cooking oil and FOGs are placed in 300- to 500 - gallon totes and shipped to either O'ahu or Maui for processing at a biodiesel facility. As a component of the composting request for proposal, Hawai'i County will be soliciting proposals to operate the biodiesel operation of West Hawai'i Compost and Biodiesel Facility. The biodiesel operation would accept cooking oil, FOGs, and grease trap waste from the County and other private sources. The waste would be processed into clean burning biodiesel and sold as a fuel to consumers. 4.3.2 Private Sector Programs Many businesses in the private sector develop in -house recycling programs. These programs are often not tracked by Hawai'i County but may constitute a large percentage of recycled materials. Some larger businesses have sophisticated systems to document the amount of recycled material generated, while smaller businesses sometimes do not carefully track the amount of materials that they recycle. In general, however, most businesses are willing to document and share the data that they collect with the County. 4.3.2.1 Curbside Collection of Recyclables Private contractors provide HI -5 beverage container redemption services at their business locations, community centers, and schools, or through mobile redemption units. Contractors and nonprofit groups also pick up paper products, such as mixed office paper, newspapers, and cardboard. The recycled materials are generally sold to brokers on the mainland. No island wide or large -scale curbside recycling program is currently implemented in Hawaii County. Although pilot curbside recycling programs have previously been implemented by private waste haulers, they have not been sustained due to various logistical, technical, and financial challenges. 4.3.2.2 Large Retail Business Recycling Large retailers, such as Wal -mart, Kmart, Costco, Home Depot, and others maintain in- house recycling programs at their stores. Cardboard and plastic (plastic bags and shrink wrap) constitute the majority of the materials recycled at these large retailers. Recycling quantities may range from a couple of bales of combined cardboard and plastic per week up to twenty bales per week for the largest retailers; each bale averages approximately 800 to 1,000 pounds. Depending on the retailer, HI -5 beverage containers, mixed paper, wood pallets, batteries, and light bulbs are also recycled at the stores. Data provided during interviews conducted with many of the retailers indicates that most of the materials, especially cardboard and plastic, are shipped either to the West Coast to third -party brokers or to the retailer's distribution center. Other recycled materials are picked up by permitted haulers. 4.3.2.3 Composting Several private businesses operate composting facilities on the island. Generally, these facilities accept green waste from local residents at no charge, and offer mulch and compost 4 -8 December 2009