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Home My WebLink AboutREP EMC 012 04/19/2010 2008-2010OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY Meeting: Action: May 5, 2010 — Council Meeting (38 Session) Approved Resolution 318 -10 and filed EMC -12 EMC Report 12 transmitted the above resolution with a "negative" recommendation due to a vote of 5 -noes. Re: C- 757 /RESOLUTION 318 -10 /EMC -12 DATE: April 19, 2010 Re: Comm. No. 757 (Res.318 -10) TIME: 2:30 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa 78 -128 Ehukai Street Kailua -Kona, Hawai`i Your Committee on Environmental Management, to which was referred Communication No. 757 (Res. 318 -10), reports as follows: Resolution 318 -10 transmitted by Department of Environmental Management Director Lono Tyson, via Communication No. 757 dated March 22, 2010 is a resolution authorizing the acceptance by the County of Hawai`i of the Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan (IRSWMP) update (hereafter referred to as the "Plan ") for the County of Hawai`i. At the April 6, 2010 Committee on Environmental Management meeting in the Hilo Councilroom, Resolution 318 -10 was postponed. At the April 19, 2010 Committee on Environmental Management meeting at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa, there were 2 public testifiers regarding Resolution 318 -10. Chair Greenwell discussed the States' requirement for the report every 5 years, the costs associated and how he felt it should not be State mandated. He complimented all those involved in the plan update process for ajob well done but said he has concerns with the recommendations. He does not support the concept of "Pay As You Throw" (PAYT), limited transfer station hours and any reduction to green waste processing. Department of Environmental Management Director Lono Tyson reviewed the history and effort behind the current plan update including public meetings, Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) meetings and regular updates to the Environmental Management Committee (EMC). He pointed out that this was a planning document and further Council action would be needed to move forward on its recommendations. CH2MHill consultant Dan Pitzler presented a PowerPoint slideshow highlighting the Plan's key points, including PAYT, State and County recycling goals, green waste recycling programs, South Hilo Landfill capacity issues and options, Material Recovery Sites (MRS) in East and West Hawai'i, emerging Waste to Energy (WTE) technology and rebuilding 19 of the 21 existing transfer stations. He discussed the strong County support for Zero Waste and the fact that the Zero Waste Study was incorporated into the current IRSWMP. He EMC Report No. 12 acknowledged that the current economic conditions would affect the Plan's implementation. He also stated that education and ordinances will be needed to change people's habits in order to increase recycling efforts. SWAC member Alexander B. Leonard presented commentary from SWAC stating that "Garbage Is Not Free ". He reviewed the process of developing the Plan and also highlighted the Plan's key points. Regarding PAYT, he acknowledged the controversy regarding it but SWAC felt it was needed to incentivize recycling. He also noted that there are currently over 7,000 municipalities with some type of PAYT program in place. He stated that it is SWAC's recommendation not to pursue emerging WTE technology until there is a proven track record that it is reliable, safe and cost effective. Councilmember Hoffmann discussed the fact that very little was implemented from the 2002 update. He is concerned with the PAYT proposal and does not support the Plan if it includes PAYT as it may lead to increased illegal dumping. He understands the need for a funding source but thinks there are better options, possibly a line item addition to property tax bills. He also does not support trucking from South Hilo Landfill to West Hawai`i Landfill. Councilmember Yagong does not support PAYT and does not support trucking from South Hilo Landfill to West Hawai`i Landfill. Councilmember Ford discussed the rapid growth in the Puna district and the need to expand the South Hilo Landfill. She confirmed with Director Tyson that there was not a revenue line for PAYT in the Environmental Management Department's proposed budget for 2010 -2011. Councilmember Naeole- Beason is concerned with PAYT and believes people cannot afford it. Your Committee on Environmental Management is not in accordance with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 318 -10 and forwards it to Council with a negative recommendation. djh Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEME T CHAIR MC REPORT NO. ADOPTED: AYES NOES A &E EX ENRIQUES X FORD X GREENWELL X HOFFMANN X IKEDA X NAEOLE - BEASON X ONISHI X YAGONG X YOSHIMOTO X acknowledged that the current economic conditions would affect the Plan's implementation. He also stated that education and ordinances will be needed to change people's habits in order to increase recycling efforts. SWAC member Alexander B. Leonard presented commentary from SWAC stating that "Garbage Is Not Free ". He reviewed the process of developing the Plan and also highlighted the Plan's key points. Regarding PAYT, he acknowledged the controversy regarding it but SWAC felt it was needed to incentivize recycling. He also noted that there are currently over 7,000 municipalities with some type of PAYT program in place. He stated that it is SWAC's recommendation not to pursue emerging WTE technology until there is a proven track record that it is reliable, safe and cost effective. Councilmember Hoffmann discussed the fact that very little was implemented from the 2002 update. He is concerned with the PAYT proposal and does not support the Plan if it includes PAYT as it may lead to increased illegal dumping. He understands the need for a funding source but thinks there are better options, possibly a line item addition to property tax bills. He also does not support trucking from South Hilo Landfill to West Hawai`i Landfill. Councilmember Yagong does not support PAYT and does not support trucking from South Hilo Landfill to West Hawai`i Landfill. Councilmember Ford discussed the rapid growth in the Puna district and the need to expand the South Hilo Landfill. She confirmed with Director Tyson that there was not a revenue line for PAYT in the Environmental Management Department's proposed budget for 2010 -2011. Councilmember Naeole- Beason is concerned with PAYT and believes people cannot afford it. Your Committee on Environmental Management is not in accordance with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 318 -10 and forwards it to Council with a negative recommendation. djh Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEME T CHAIR MC REPORT NO. ADOPTED: