HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.286 2024-2026From: Sarah
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 9:27 AM CD
To: Council Testimony p�
Subject: Strong Support Bill 83 �?
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Aloha Members of the Council,?
I am submitting testimony in strong support of Bill83. We continue to hear a lot of discussion a6oufcost,
in particular how'expensive' compostables will be. So I'd like to touch on some other relevant costs:
Our landfill is a finite asset, and we are rapidly depreciating its remaining useful life. Every ton of plastic
entering the waste stream accelerates that depreciation and brings the County closer to a major capital
expenditure: acquiring land, permitting, engineering, and constructing replacement facility. This is not
a theoretical future cost, it's a looming, multi -million -dollar liability on the County's horizon.
Continuing to rely on single -use plastics also generates ongoing operating expenses: hauling waste
around the island, diverting loads to more distant sites, and eventually paying to export waste off -
island, a cost that will only escalate with fuel prices, shipping constraints, and labor.
By contrast, increasing the share of compostable material in our waste stream reduces the volume of
permanent waste and extends the useful life of our existing landfill, delaying large capital outlays and
stabilizing operating costs.
Composting also transforms waste into a value -generating asset. Finished compost directly supports
local agriculture, increasing crop yields and reducing dependency on imported food. Compost turns
what would otherwise be a pure expense into an output that produces ongoing returns for the
community in the form of meals, soil health, and local food production.
Bill83 is not just an environmental choice, it is a financially prudent one. It reduces long-term
liabilities, preserves County assets, and converts waste into economic value.
Mahalo nui,
Sarah Warr
mobile: (808) 333-4717
sarahraffeay(@gmaii.com
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