HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0521.040 2002-2004 Jxtr'us ~'!W
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Harry Kim
Mayor _ Barbara Bell
it Director
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
25 Aupuni Street, Roam 210 • Hilo, Hawa~ i 96720-4252
(808) 961-8083 • Raz (SOR) 961-8086
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May 28, 2004 ~
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The Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman
and Members of the Hawaii County Council - " ~
25 Aupuni Street
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Hilo, HI 96720 - a
Subject: Questions regarding the impact of the Sort Station on implementation of a
Waste Reduction Technology (WRT)
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Council:
Attached is a letter that was sent to DEM in response to questions I posed to our
consultant regarding the importance of Waste Reduction Technology being supported
by a Sort Station. I believe it will answer some questions and concerns raised recently
by the Council.
Aloha,
Barbara Bell
DIRECTOR
Comm. No._ y~ .
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F/awai'i County is an e9ua! opportunity provider and employer.
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'vis. Barbara Bell, Director " ~ ~'<~Mb:'rttr~ ~
Department of Environmental Management
2S Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 9(720252
RE: Qucstiais regarding the impact of dca Sort Stativn on imp!cmerftation of a Waste Reduction
'Technology (\VRT)
You asked for clarification on two questions:
1. !s construction of the Sort Station critical now given that the County intends to procure a
Waste Reduction Tcclmology'?
2. Will the Sort Station be irrelevan±, and a waste of money, when WRT is implemented'?
'I7te construction of the Sort Station. on a rzpid timeline is critical to the County, and to the
Counry's goal of cunstnfcting a WRT, for two principle reasons.
First is the impending closure of the Hilo landfill and the need for a facility to manage East side
waste at that time. The procurement and eunslruutiun of a WR"T will take several years -site
scle:ction, permitting, E1S, community input, polemial legal challenges, ate. -and is fraught with
uncci•`ainty. This is the experience everywhere that such a technology is implemented. The
County ,vould risk having to haul all waste to Puuanahulu in small vehicles if the Hilo landfill is
furued to close before the'NRT is completed. This would be very costly and have an
unacceptable comntunih~ impact.
Secondly, the Sorl Station will be a critical part ofthe County's rccyclitig system, in coordination
with the transfer stations and the WAT. There is a need fur a central facility to prepare
recyclabtes fut market, as woll as to handle bulky raterials like scrap me+als and construction
and demohtion dehris. This function will help extend the li fc of the Hilo landfill, and will ba an
integral part irf the County's lung-term recycling program.
To the sauond question, the Sort Stativn is beitt~ specifically designed to create opportunities that
support and complnnent a WRT. Its design i. highly flexible and will be atilt to play several
functions in support of W1ZT, to.' example:
• Pre-processing of waste from the transfer statiwts before delivery tv the WRT, such as
screening and removal of incompatible materials, e.g. hazardous wastes and bulky
mate rials, and recovery of recyelab'es. 'The sp¢cifications of the WRT will dctcnnine.
precisely what pre-processing the Sort Station performs.
• Processing of targeted commercial loads that arc rich in recyclables, for example,
corrugated eardbvard and other paper.
• Receipt and pre-prvicessing of public self-haul loads from the Hily area for removal of
recyclable and reusable items.
• ~ ince technologies always suffer downtime, fhc Sort Station will assure continuous
service to E,ist Hawai' c.
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In order Co be adaptable so that it can feed an anaerobic digester or gasifier, the design of the Sun
Station is the most flexible of the types that are consn-ucted on the mainland. It will serve the
County both before the WRT is completed, and also will compliment the technology affier rt. is
operational.
I have worked extensively in Hawaii as manager oc key participant on the State Solid Waste
Management Plan, the State Disaster Debris Management Plan, the Kauai Counyy Solid Waste
Management Plan, the Maui Refuse Collection System Plan, and the Update to the Hawaii
County Solid Waste Management Plan. Tn addition T have worked extensively on solid waste
plans and recycling systems throughout the Western U.S.
The East Hawaii Sort Station will offer by far the best solution to integrating recycling, Waste
Reduction. T¢ctutolobry and trash disposal of an}nvhere in ilawai'i And it will be one of the
leading facilities in the L.S. if the project is delayed, the County wilt reduce it4 options, risk
discontinuation of service to East Hawaii residents, and gain no advantages for tmplementing
Waste Reduction Teclutolog}•.
1 am available ko answer any other questions.
Si(n^cer~ely,
v V
Wayne Ri
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