HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0007.008 2006-2008 From: James Weatherford, PhD
Keaau, Hawaii
To: Hawaii County Council
February 21, 2008
Agenda item:
REFERRAL FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Communication 7.7
WASTE REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY RFP NO. 2210
Questions about the Hilo waste-to-energy (WTE) proposal.
"Would WTE prevent trucking from Hilo to Kona?"
No.
At least 25°h, by weight,' of what is now going into the East Hawaii landfill would be tricked to the West
Hawaii landfill. Ash and 'non-bumables' (unrecoverable metal and glass; oversize, mixed and wet
materials).
"Would WTE pollute our environment?"
No one knows with certainty whether or not WTE will pollute our environment.
It is known 'waste' incineration generates, and WTE's have emitted, these pollutants: dioxin, a known
carcinogen; nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas; and heave metals that accumulate in the local food-chain by
way of air and surtace water.
`Do environments! protection regulations assure community safety?"
No.
Regulation is typically a penally after a violation has occurred and after the local environment has been
polluted.
`Does technology assure community safety?"
Only if the technology operates pertedly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every week WTE operates.
Actual experience has been that incinerator operators cut costs on maintenance, which degrades
equipment with the result that the local environment is polluted.
Operator negligence has left some local governments with unplanned expend'Rures to repair or replace
degraded equipment.
`How much electricity will the proposed WTE generate?°
3.5 megawatts (mw) - an amount equivalent to about 2% of the island's peak electricity generation in
2006. By comparison, PGV generates 30mw, Hawi wind farm 10mw, and South Point wind farm 20mw.
`Does WTE 6enefd the local economy?"
No.
WTE creates minimal local jobs, retains no operating profrts locally, and displaces local plastic and paper
recycling businesses.
"Would the County go into debt?"
Yes.
WTE would be the County's largest-ever debt-funded capital expenditure.
"What's the alternative?"
1.Do what has not been done: Reward resource conservation. Reduce tivaste' generation.
2.Do better what has been done: Re-use discarded materials. Recycle ever more of the rest.
3.Disposal of the diminishing portion of materials not reused or recycled will require landfilling on this
island or elsewhere.
' The would-be WTE operator, as well as the County-paid consultant, has only talked about 10%, by volume, 'residue' left after
incineration -ash. This is misleading, because: first, trucking is done by weigh, not volume; and, the non-bumables are ignored.
Gomm. hto 7
Ref. To: ~>reat?efd tu'rGil
Ref. Dote_ FEB 21 Zp~,