HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0764.080 2022-2024From: GeoJeonAdams
Sent: Friday, August 2'20243:41 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Re: Reconsideration of Bill 140
Attachments: Bill 140 Testimony 5-29-24.pdf
I do not support the Counci I overriding the Mayor's veto of Bi It 140 at the August 7, 2024, Counci I
I did not support passage of this bill in the first place (see attached testimony previously submitted) and
atiUconSid8r it iU-advised mtthis time.
I strongly recommend waiting for review of the Department of Environmental. Management's contracted
Solid Waste Operational. Study, expected this fatt. This study is critical to understanding which poticies
and operationat adjustments are needed to provide effective waste management for the county. It witt
receive C@refU\review bythe Environmental. Management Commission.
Aeomember ofthe Solid Waste Advisory Committee for the 2O18Integrated SoiidVVaato
Management Plan(.1SWM-P), I supported the recommendations to do an operational efficiency analysis
and to reduce operating hours and consider closing one or more transfer stations (Recommendations
Ch.8 #4 and 6). The Solid Waste Operational Study contractor is evaluating arange ofoptions toimprove
our collection and transfer programs as described in the ISWMP Chapter 8.7, as well as
other recommendations contained in the plan to better reduce and manage our solid wastes. |\ook
forward toevaluating their findings and recommendations.
M8h8|Ofor your consideration,
GeO'^88DAd8rDS
x `--
District 8 resident
r
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May 29, 2024
The Hon. Susan Lee Loy, Chair, and Ashley Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair, and
Members of the Policy Committee on Infrastructure and Assets
RE: June 4, 2024, Agenda Item to Amend HCC Ch 20: Bill 140 Draft 01
Chair Lee Loy and Committee Members,
I oppose Bill 140 to amend operational requirements for Department of Environmental
Management (DEM) solid waste disposal (SWD) facilities for the reasons stated below:
"Section_20- . SWD facilities; minimum days of operation.
Any WD facility used for the dismsal, collet ion and transfer of household solid
waste shall be operafed and open to the public for such purposes no less than two days a
week."
1. Residents can access other transfer stations on days that their local transfer station is not
open.
2. There is no provision for unexpected closures that may lead to less than two days service.
3. No additional funds have been provided to DEM to support such service.
4. Even if funds were provided, the additional costs of staffing and hauling solid waste for a
low volume Transfer Station such as the one at Kalapana (currently the only station at
less than 2 days/week) is a poor allocation of resources needed for efficient county -wide
management of residential solid waste.
5. Council and DEM could consider ad hoc solid waste pick-up(s) in cases where safety
issues arise from a resident not being able to get to a transfer station on a timely basis.
6. Bill 140 is ambiguous as to whether the two-day minimum applies to recycling services —
which is variably provided at transfer stations. (Kalapana and Pa'auilo have no recycling
service; HI5 collection/redemption is only offered at 7 transfer stations, 4 at only one
day/week.) Establishing recyclables collection and transport would add significant costs
and time to redesign and manage multiple transfer stations, requiring new appropriations,
hard -to -find hires and contracts.
Ideally, Council will wait for DEM to review the Solid Waste Operational study now underway
and expected for completion this fall and will allow a more considered county -wide redesign of
its transfer station and waste management program. (The study is evaluating several
recommendations made in the 2019 Integrated Solid Waste Implementation Plan, including
transfer station operations.)
If additional service is deemed an immediate need, regardless of costs, at Kalapana and environs,
I suggest you grant DEM funds to do a pilot program for curbside pick-up of wastes and
recyclables, including funds for education on how residents can reduce and reuse materials they
are now discarding. The results of such a curbside collection pilot would be valuable data for
follow-up on the operational study.
Sincerely,
e`
Georjean L. Adams
Kamuela HI