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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0554.006 2020-2022 From: Megan Lamson Leatherman Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 9:00 AM To: Council Testimony Subject: Re: Comm 554 - DEM presentation and discussion of composting facility- today's RAWEEM Committee (1/18/22) CO3Ti1NIYCLER C UN?tiT OF 1lNX r'1 RECE11 ED Aloha Councilmembers, � �- D<<tJAN I 2 Sending a quick email this morning as I am unsure I will be able to remotely"attend" the RAVVEEM committee's presentations / discussion later today. In short, while I am very PRO composting(and it's consequential impact and decrease of our local carbon emissions), my feelings have changed about the County's proposed composting facility. Climate change is real and is being demonstrated here locally with our marine environment (sea-level rise, ocean acidification, coral bleaching) and terrestrial ecosystems (increased patterns of drought, wildlife, and storm events) and we need to take action but a single composting facility with a $IoM bill to tax payers is not the way to go. Five years ago, I was in full SUPPORT of the proposed Hawai'i County organics facility-which would have been the first of its kind statewide. However times have changed and we have more information now. Today, I am OPPOSED to this initiative for a single, centralized composting facility. The DEM has worked hard to update it's Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan for the island over the past couple years, and included towards the top (of their goals)was a life-cycle analysis of the various solid waste management activities being undertaken. With the close of the Hilo landfill,we have learned that hauling solid waste around the "big island" is costly(economically and ecologically) and this should not also happen with our food waste. Instead, I hope the RAWEEM Committee pushes DEM to continue their efforts to reduce carbon emissions and support more decentralized options for home composting(as many restaurants and resorts are already diverting their food waste via means of local piggeries). In years past, the County supported workshops about vermiculture and even provided free bins to participants. I believe Kauai currently has a similar program that decreases the expense of disposing food waste (vs landfill and cost per ton) and furthermore decreases green-house gas emissions like methane when food waste is landfilled. The state has various laws /hurdles that make smaller-scale and decentralized composting facilities very challenging, however, not impossible. Perhaps Councilmembers can reach out to you state counterparts and see about alleviating some of these draconic hurdles and also work directly to support Hawaii Island residents by providing free or discounted home-composting bins, and supporting local farmers who are currently trying to use regenerative agricultural practices,which includes composting, at their own farms. Mahalo for your time, consideration, and leadership. Feel free to follow-up if you'd like to discuss more. There are various groups on island, including Zero Waste Hawaii Island, Recycle Hawaii, and Ma'ona Community Garden to name a few, that are experts in this area and could provide more info. Best, Megan -- Comm. No. Megan R. Lamson Leatherman, M.S. Ref. To- Ref. Date JAN 1 8 2UZ