Integrated Resources & Solid Waste Management Plan Update - Dec 2009

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4.0 RECYCLING, BIOCONVERSION, AND MARKETS Waste Division staff believe that paying more for off - island reuse and remanufacturing than for on- island use is a barrier to developing local markets for glass. Developing local markets for glass has a number of benefits including: saving natural resources by not having to mine raw materials, eliminating diesel fuel use associated with shipping glass to off - island markets, and creating local jobs. 4.3.3.6 Metals There are limited facilities on the Big Island for processing scrap metal. The bulk of the scrap metal generated in the County is shipped either to O'ahu for processing and subsequent shipment to the U.S. mainland of Asian markets, or shipped directly to those markets. During the last decade, scrap metal value increased steadily until the financial crisis of late 2008, at which time market prices plummeted. Due to its weight, the processing required to ship scrap metal, and distance to markets, processing and shipping costs will likely continue to impact the economics of selling scrap metal. 4.3.3.7 Market Development Initiatives The County helps provide incentives for recycling through its diversion incentive program. In this program, the County issues requests for proposals for companies to process and market and /or collect recyclable materials. Currently, it has contracts with companies for processing paper, metals, plastics, glass, FOG, latex paint and green waste. It also contracts with a company for collecting and processing mixed recyclables and glass at its recycling and transfer stations. 4.3.4 Hawaii County Staffing Levels Successful delivery of local government waste reduction programs requires devoting an appropriate amount of resources including staffing. Hawaii County has demonstrated its commitment to waste reduction and recycling by assigning the following staff to County waste reduction and recycling programs: • One full -time recycling coordinator • Two FTE recycling specialists for the HI -5 recycling program • Two FTE recycling specialists • One part -time student helper In addition, using funds provided by the County of Hawaii, Recycle Hawaii employs three part -time education specialists, who are responsible for educating the public about waste reduction and recycling programs on the north, west and east portions of the island, respectively. Recycle Hawai'i also has other personnel that do education at KRRC and other various workshops and community events. • 7 =- As described above, a number of recycling, bioconversion, and marketing activities have been recently conducted in the County of Hawaii, including programs and initiatives by both the County as well as other organizations. In spite of these efforts, the County recycling rate is just under 30 percent, which is well below its 2008 target of 50 percent. There is more that could be done by the County and waste generators to treat materials as resources and December 2009 4 -11