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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 123 Draft 02 2012-2014OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY Meeting: Environmental Management Committee—December 3, 2013 Action: Postponed to Call of Chair; never taken up again Re: Res 123-13 Draft 2; Comm. 296 (2012-2014 term) COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. I -Z3 13 (DRAFT 2) A RESOLUTION URGING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADOPT AN APPROACH TO THE COUNTY'S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM THAT EMPHASIZES COMPOSTING/MULCHING AND INCREASED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE, AS WELL AS CONSIDERS ALL SOLID WASTE TECHNOLOGIES THAT BEST CONTRIBUTE TO THE REDUCTION AND HANDLING OF SOLID WASTE IN A MANNER THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND COST-EFFECTIVE. WHEREAS, the Council acknowledges that one of the County's most important responsibilities at this time is to address the problem of solid waste in a manner that is environmentally sound, cost-effective, and that seeks to maximize refuse as a resource rather than as waste; and WHEREAS, On December 19, 2007, the County Council adopted Resolution No. 356-07, Draft 2, to embrace and adopt the principles of zero waste as a long-term goal for Hawaii County; and WHEREAS, the 2009 County of Hawaii Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan Update identified recycling and waste diversion as major activities to help the County reach its goal to divert 50 percent of solid waste from any landfill by 2008 and 80 percent by 2013, as set forth by Resolution No. 28-03, Draft 2, adopted by the County Council on January 23, 2003; and WHEREAS, the year ending 2012 diversion rate was under 37 percent; and WHEREAS, Resolution No. 826-08, Draft 2, adopted by the County Council on January 23, 2009, urged the Director of the Department of Environmental Management to develop an ordinance and implement a plan to prohibit food, paper, and compostable organics from Hawaii County landfills by 2012; and WHEREAS, composting and mulching keeps organic waste out of the landfill and produces much needed organic matter for our local farmers; and WHEREAS, increasing the availability of on -island compost will reduce the cost currently paid by farmers to obtain compost from mainland sources; and WHEREAS, composting requires a specific heat regime which prevents the spread of certain invasive species, such as little fire ants and coqui frogs; and WHEREAS, accountability by the public is an important aspect of waste reduction, and increased responsibility for the quantity of waste created by each person and business should be an inherent part of any waste -reduction plan, such that those who are more conscientious for proper sorting are rewarded for their efforts; and WHEREAS, there are many options that should be explored to reduce the overall quantity of solid waste, such as increasing the role and responsibility of the public to reduce, reuse, and recycle and enhancing the current two -bin recycling at the transfer stations by adding additional sort components; and WHEREAS, the option of adding and upgrading material recovery facilities to maximize recycling rates should be considered as an important component of our solid waste program; and WHEREAS, waste -to -energy is another option, but certainly not the only option worthy of consideration; and WHEREAS, with respect to waste -to -energy options, particular attention should be given to some of the new high-temperature, waste -to -energy technologies that prefer to exclude compostable green waste and that require lower daily quantities of feedstock to maintain an efficient operation; and WHEREAS, solid waste technologies are rapidly evolving, and being up to date on current technologies is important in order to develop the best solid waste program; and WHEREAS, the Department of Environmental Management has requested postponement of solid waste contracts in order to perform a comprehensive review of all aspects of the County's solid waste; and WHEREAS, in the March 19, 2013, and the June 27, 2013, editions of the West Hawaii Today, Mayor Kenoi expressed support for a waste -to -energy incinerator similar to the H -Power plant on Oahu; and WHEREAS, a comprehensive plan should include reduce, reuse, and recycle as well as safe, efficient, and cost-effective technologies; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it strongly urges the Administration to adopt an approach to the County's solid waste program that emphasizes composting/mulching and increased personal responsibility to reduce, reuse, and recycle, as well as considers all solid waste technologies that best contribute to the reduction and handling of solid waste in a manner that is environmentally sound and cost-effective. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor not limit his exploration of solid waste program alternatives to waste -to -energy options, but instead fully explore all solid waste technologies. 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor issue Requests for Information prior to Requests for Proposals, which are to be presented to the Council so as to maximize its level of knowledge and to keep the public informed. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to the Honorable William P. Kenoi, Mayor, County of Hawaii; the Director of Environmental Management; the Director of Parks and Recreation; the Director of Public Works; and the Director of Research and Development. Dated at , Hawai`i, this day of COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on ATTEST 2013. INTRODUCED BY: COUNCIL MBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER 3 ROLL CALL VOTE AYES NOES ABS EX EOFF FORD ILAGAN KANUHA KERN ONISHI POINDEXTER WILLE YOSHIMOTO Reference: C-296.3/EMC RESOLUTION NO. 1.ti3 :13 (DRAFT 2)