HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0189.005 2008-2010
Murashige, Laura
From: Bob Jacobson [Jacobs@hawaiianisp.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 3:19 PM
To: counciltestimony
Subject: testimony i
vs
Attachments: 3 17 09 single solid waste proposalres66 09.doc 2009 APR PM g 35
3 17 09 single solid
waste pro...
Comm. No. O 1 • S
Ref. To: a ZM I
1 Ref. Date .APR 0 2003+
Bob and Julie Jacobson
PO Box 900 Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760 808-966-8831 jaaubsa,haw'aanisji.'cnnta }
March 16, 2009 1069 nPR Pfq $ '17
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To: Chairman Greenwell and Members of the Hawaii County Council Committ~q~l~nl vironmle+ tale '
Management
Topic: Do not pass Reso.66-09 without amendments and public hearings
Aloha Chair and Members
Plcase do not pass Resolution 66-09 out of committee. Public hearings are needed as well as comprehensive
amendments to make it compatible with our county's Zero-Waste Policy and current ordinances prohibiting
importing solid waste from other islands. You and your constituents need to understand that this resolution has
the power to do more harm than good for Hawaii Island residents. Don't rush to make deals that hurt the
County in an attempt to qualify for elusive Federal funding.
Before we considered spending $100s of millions on the ill-favored incinerator our citizens had an opportunity
to comment. Before we consider letting other more populous counties dump their solid waste on this island or
dictate to us how much we will pay to handle solid waste, the citizens of this county must be allowed to weigh
in on these ideas. Please consider these points:
Though not transparent, the fifth whereas of Reso 66-09 really calls for changing our current law prohibiting
other counties from shipping and dumping their waste onto Hawaii Island. Any agreement among Hawaii
State Counties should specify that; other than for transshipping recyclables and manufacturer take-backs. solid
waste from one county should be handled in that county and should not be dumped onto other islands. That is,
each county should take care of its own waste as much as possible. This is a sustainable approach. The fifth
whereas needs amendment to indicate that Hawaii County isn't to be used as a dumping ground for mixed
waste or contaminated green waste. Controls are needed to prevent the spread of exotic species.
The Council needs to reserve autonomy of our county over our policy-making and decision-making regarding
solid waste. Members of this Council not only need to understand the importance of maintaining ownership and
control of the solid waste resources we have in our County, but they must understand our liabilities. Resources
include not only the open space in our Puuanahulu Landfill but also the so-called trash itself. Liabilities such as
closed and burning landfills will increase in magnitude and frequency as EPA emission standards change.
Although recycling and oil prices are currently at low levels, you can count on recyclable commodity and oil
prices to return to high levels within the next few years. Our resources will increase in value in coming years.
Remember that Hawaii County residents are also complying with the bottle bill at higher levels than other
counties. Our residents want to recycle. Present and past councils have expressed a desire to pursue the policy
of Zero-Waste. Our residents are motivated to follow a policy of Zero-Waste and will very likely engage in the
efforts that are required to meet this goal.
Assumptions that large facilities or special technologies may result in lower costs or higher efficiencies do not
necessarily apply to Zero-Waste solutions. Creating local jobs in re-use, repair and remanufacture is more
beneficial to our county than a similarly priced process that doesn't create local jobs. Individual solutions must
be examined. Big "magic bullet" technologies must be analyzed scrupulously for local benefits, job generation,
and practicality and must be guaranteed by contract and/or performance bonds. Bigger is not necessarily better
for Hawaii residents.
We must be careful not to allow other counties to dictate how much we pay to handle and process our solid
waste or tell us how much debt we must carry. Accepting solid waste from other islands is currently illegal in
this county and changing this law should trigger public hearings.
This Council needs to understand that the Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) process is only as clean as
the waste that is treated. If the waste in the MBT stream contains heavy metals (mercury. lead, cadmium) or
plastics, soil amendments won't be suitable for food crops and may leach toxins into the ocean, water wells or
soil on agricultural down-slope properties. The rural non-industrial solid waste stream from our county should
not be contaminated with more toxic industrial products from other counties to leach into our soil and water.
If this council still wants to engage with other counties for "a single solid waste proposal" this council should
demand that this proposal adhere to zero waste policies that have been approved by the Council. A new
whereas needs to be added:
"Whereas the Hawaii County Council approved a policy supporting a Zero-Waste approach during the last
Council Session and reiterated support for this policy through passage of the Keep Organics out of Our Landfill
in 2009, this policy should be followed when doing any planning of our solid waste programs; and"
The first be it resolved clause should be amended to read:
"Be it resolved that the counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai and the City and County of Honolulu are
encouraged to collaborate to develop a joint proposal [process} to address the State's solid waste issues through
integrated programs that promote Hawaii County's policy of Zero-Waste and economic and agricultural
sustainability for the state of Hawaii; and"
Luckily Hawaii County is in better shape than other counties regarding our options and resources. We have the
luxury of having the time to make the best long-term decisions. There is no solid waste emergency on this
island unlike other counties.
In conclusion, do not approve this resolution in its current form or without public hearings on this issue. I would
suggest scrapping it and using the powers and structure of the Hawaii State Association of Counties to pursue
this idea if this Council and constituents want to pursue this idea.
Sincerely,
Former Hawaii County Council Members Bob and Julie Jacobson