2018-08-08 SWAC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Araujo said before a waste characterization study is done, they may want to go back and look at previous studies done. One was done before the initiation of the tipping fee. The company that did the study went through and weighed everything that went into the landfill. Ms. Bell said there was also a study done in 2002. (3) Other potential options of emphasis for waste diversion: construction and demolition, cardboard, promotion and education. Ms. Seckel that for a waste composition study, they would try to identify particular low- hanging fruit. In looking at the 2008 study, cardboard was an item that could use a better system. Not all transfer stations have the option of separating cardboard, so an idea that could be integrated into the plan is to separate cardboard at all stations. The committee members discussed ideas on how to implement having cardboard recycling at all the transfer stations. On construction and demolition, Ms. Seckel said it could stay on the island, as far as reusing materials from construction projects in new projects—such as reusing concrete. The permitting process could require commercial developers to do some sort of waste reduction plan. It has become more regulated across the nation. There are a lot of opportunities to reuse C&D material on the island. Ms. Bell wondered how C&D material could be reused on the island, and Mr. Buklarewicz said there is an Oahu company that will be hiring in Kona to market C&D material. There is a big market for it. Mr. Miller said there is some material, such as drywall and clean wood, that would have a strong market in certain locations. There are definitely opportunities to use it. It is also better to use a lot of this material, such as concrete and asphalt, as an inert fill rather than have it go to a mixed landfill where it is just mixed in with other garbage, which does not take advantage of the inert characteristics. When construction companies start identifying the materials they are generating, then markets will develop with vendors who will actually start using the material. It would also be good to have pre-demolition or pre-construction recycling plans for commercial projects so the recyclers out there can see what materials will become available and secure them for their recycling facilities. If the message gets out that materials are available, markets can be developed around them. Regarding education and outreach, Chair Hayducsko provided an overview on what is being done this year. They have a budget to do education and outreach, but it concerns him that not enough is being done. They currently have $85,000 budgeted for the education and outreach project discussed. In developing the outreach, the first thing is to decide what message they want to get out to the public—it needs to be a message that reaches peoples’ hearts. It should be simple to update their handouts and publications. The next step is to develop signage at the transfer stations, which is on their schedule to do. Another step is to reach out to the community, through radio ads, TV, public service 8