2018-04-25 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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Chair Bennett said Director Kucharski’s perspective is useful and accurate, and that citizens should be asked to step up in some way and be financially responsible. Even though the County’s share of the discharge is small, it offers leadership and should step up first. He asked the commissioners to think about whether they would like to participate in the subcommittee. b. Continued discussion regarding composting of old lumber and whether borate degrades the compost quality. Commissioner Fritz asked Director Kucharski if he had done some research on this, and Director Kucharski said it had not been on his to-do list. However, he will provide information at the next meeting. It definitely bothers him that there is no permitted construction and demolition (C&D) landfill for non-sanitary waste disposal. It would require a minimum five- to six-year permitting process. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee would be looking at it. For now, only untreated pallets go into the compost. Commissioner Fritz asked who would fill out an application for a new landfill, and Director Kucharski said a person or corporation can, or the County can. However, the County is not in the business of building but of operating, so it would have to be contracted out. Commissioner Olson said it should also fall under emergency response, as the island could end up buried in debris if it is hit with a tsunami or hurricane. Clean-up would be delayed without a C&D site. Director Kucharski said he fully agreed, and somewhere in Puna or Kaū ʻ would be a great location. Because the island is not highly industrialized, the waste is not as contaminated as it would be in more industrialized areas, so the debris would be much easier to deal with here. However, a site to take storm debris is needed. Commissioner Fritz said he would like a C&D site pursued and asked if there is an opportunity for public testimony on this. George Hayducsko, DEM’s Recycling Coordinator who was present, said yes. He is currently working on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan, which is due every ten years. He can speak on it at a committee meeting. Commissioner Fritz asked about trucks coming in with lumber debris, and whether it is noted anywhere. Director Kucharski said he is not aware of a weight notation on construction debris. Payment is by the ton, not by content. Commissioner Fritz said he is a frequent user of Puʻuanahulu and is often asked what happens to the debris. Director Kucharski said asbestos and sewage sludge go into special cells which are noted. Commissioner Osborne said any solid waste plan needs data if it will be for a long term, and it will probably be expensive. In addition, data is needed to validate the need for the project. Director Kucharski explained that they do waste characterization studies periodically to determine the percentages of what is organic, metal, plastic, and C&D materials in normal solid waste entering the landfill. Mr. Hayducsko said the last study was for the last Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP) in 2008-09. The commissioners discussed recommending a system for data collection to support this ISWMP, and Director Kucharski said he did not know the mechanism for contracting and may 5