2015-03-25 Environmental Management Commission Minutes

Home

would support composting, recycling and diversion from the landfill. Councilmember Wille told the commission that she is committed to sustainability for the county and for the department. Outreach Educators Noah Dodd and Sam Robinson spoke of their educational programs with the HPA students, including gardening and recycling. Five-stream color-coded bins have been provided to the school to educate students on recycling and source separation. Dodd supports: - Community base composting vs. long term contracts for large composters - Funding distributed between districts for zero waste programs - More than a single-stream recycling program Dodd and Robinson are working with Recycle Hawaii and schools such as Kohala Middle School, and their"Let's Grow Hilo"project, to educate students on zero waste and composting. Robinson would like the State Department of Education to amend its trash disposal contracts to include recycling in all schools. Chair Randle advised that the commissioners have written to the Board of Education requesting this amendment and have had no response. Kristine Kubat of Recycle Hawaii, speaking on the department budget, distributed a document entitled"ESTIMATED REVENUES" (attached to original minutes). She suggested: - Establishment of a department budget task force to include commissioners and vendors to assist the department in budget review/preparation. She does not feel that gathering vendors to provide input on the budget is a possible conflict of interest and feels it is important to find an acceptable way to have group discussion on the department budget. - She supports the county funding of solid waste education and recycling programs. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report(attached to original minutes): Final confirmation of Laura Neff to the Environmental Management Commission, District 1, is agendized on the April 1, 2015 council meeting. WASTEWATER DIVISION - Bill 20, adding$4,950,000 for Hilo Ocean Outfall Assessment and repair,passed Council on March 4, 2015. The county is still awaiting the required Department of Army(DOA)Nationwide Permit to begin the project. - Lono Kona Sewer Improvement District: Draft EA is out for public comment and a contract is being executing with a design consultant. SOLID WASTE DIVISION Resolution 126-15 - Relates to a multi-year agreement for furnishing organic waste diversion operations in West Hawai`i and East Hawai`i and is agendized for the March 31, 2015 Finance Council Committee meeting. - Current contract ends in December and contains a one-year extension option. - The RFP is ready for distribution once the resolution is approved by Council. Upon vendor submittal and selection, the vendor will need to order equipment to begin the operation by December 15, 2015. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.