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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0296.004 2012-2014Zendo Kern Council Member Council District 5 Mailing Address: Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 DATE: Hawai `i County Council County of Hawai `i September 13, 2013 J Yoshimoto, Chairperson Hawaii County Council FROM: Zendo Kern, Chairperson Environmental Management Committee Phone: (808) 965 -2712 Fax: (808) 965 -2707 Email: zkern@co.hawaii.hi.us Planning Committee Chair Environmental Manatwnent ,- Committee Chair :)C) SUBJECT: Referral of the Comments and Recommendations from the Director of the Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Management Commission on Resolution 123 -13, Draft 2 Please find the Comments and Recommendations from the Director of the Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Management Commission on Resolution 123 -13, Draft 2 attached. Since the Environmental Management Committee referred it to the Department and Commission and the forty -five day review period was met as required in Hawaii County Code Chapter 2, Article 40, Section 2 -207, this may be placed on the next appropriate committee agenda. Thank you. Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island Hawai 'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Comm, No. �-Q 0, T Ref. To: 9W G Ref. Date P 13 2 013 w -< SUBJECT: Referral of the Comments and Recommendations from the Director of the Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Management Commission on Resolution 123 -13, Draft 2 Please find the Comments and Recommendations from the Director of the Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Management Commission on Resolution 123 -13, Draft 2 attached. Since the Environmental Management Committee referred it to the Department and Commission and the forty -five day review period was met as required in Hawaii County Code Chapter 2, Article 40, Section 2 -207, this may be placed on the next appropriate committee agenda. Thank you. Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island Hawai 'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Comm, No. �-Q 0, T Ref. To: 9W G Ref. Date P 13 2 013 William P. Kenoi Mayor Walter K.M. Lau Managing Director MEMORANDUM Count Jaf �.2t�tx�tt` C ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION 25 Aupuni Street • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 -4224 (808) 961 -8083 - Fax (808) 961 -8086 cohdem @co.hawaii.hi.us Date . August 29, 2013 To Zendo Kern, Chair Anne Lee Chair w -ri r vt Environmental Management Committee Hawaii County Coun it N From Anne lee, Chair`F -__` "� Environmental M a ement Commission Subject : Referral of Resolution No. 123 -13, Draft 2, for Comments and Recommendations of the Director of the Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Management Commission Pursuant to Ordinance 12 -114, we are required to respond to your request for review and recommendation of the subject Resolution within a 45 -day period. The Environmental Management Commission met on August 29, 2013. The commissioners voted unanimously to offer no recommendation, positive or negative, on this resolution. Thank you for the opportunity to review this Bill. cc: Mayor William P. Kenoi Hawaii County Council Members Environmental Management Commissioners Deputy Corporation Counsel Amy Self County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. c� -n _o �SYwor N�� COUNTY OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. STATE OF HAWAI `I 123 13 (DRAFr 2) A RESOLUTION URGING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADOPT AN APPROACH TO THE COUNTY'S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM THAT EMPHASIZES COMPOSTINGIMULCHING 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. 0) 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: 1 COUNCIL MBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER KULL CALL VU I C AYES NOES ABS EX EOFF FORD ILAGAN KANUHA KERN ONISHI POINDEXTER WILLS YOSHIMOTO Reference: C- 296.3/EW RESOLUTION NO. 123 13 (DRAFT 2 ) William P. Kenoi Mayor Walter K.M. Lau Managing Director VCW BJ Leithead Todd Director John A. Medeiros Deputy Director DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 25 Aupuni Street • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 -4224 (808) %1 -8083 - Fax (808) %1 -8086 cohdem @co.hawaii.hi.us http: / /www hawaiicounty gov /environmental -mana eg menU MEMORANDUM o Ca w CD C'-) Date September 6, 2013 `- Q 0 -< To Zendo Kern, Chair .o? Environmental Management Committee Hawaii County Council N X w o From BJ Leithead Todd, Director Subject : Referral of Resolution No. 123 -13, Draft 2, for Comments and Recommendations of the Director of the Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Management Commission As requested in your July 24, 2013 correspondence, I have reviewed the resolution and do not support it in its current version. I offer the following comments for your consideration if the resolution is going to be forwarded to the Council: First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Whereas paragraphs: No comments. Sixth and Seventh Whereas paragraphs: While diversion of green waste from our landfills is beneficial by extending the life of the landfills and reducing the potential greenhouse gas that would be produced, I question whether the mulch or compost would actually go to farmers, the general public or end up more as landscaping material. As far as I know there is no evidence to support the contention that the mulch or compost ends up with farmers as opposed to landscapers and the general public. On Maui, the composting operation traditionally has ended up being purchased by developers and landscapers. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. In order to actually engage in an effective composting program, a multi -year contract is required in order to allow a vendor time to amortize their investment in equipment. A composting operation can either be designed to incorporate sludge or manure, or be done with just green waste. The Maui experience is that their compost does not end up being purchased by farmers. The cost of compost to consumers on Maui runs between $50 to $65 per cubic yard. Maui pays EKO $30 per ton for green waste and $80 a ton for the sludge that is mixed with the green waste to produce the compost. EKO gets the proceeds of any sales. It is likely that an operation on this island would end up with compost that was more expensive given the differences in Maui and Hawaii island's volume and past experience in procurement. There is some potential for a market for organic farmers if any operation does not include wastewater sludge but it is unknown at what price point it would be viable. Additionally, it would probably be very difficult to get any compost certified organic as we do not control what herbicides or pesticides may have been sprayed on the incoming green waste. Eighth Whereas paragraph: Commercial composting operations are generally unlikely to have fire ants and coqui frogs if properly managed however, composting at residential households frequently has problems with control of fire ants. Ninth Whereas paragraph: This paragraph appears to support a compensation /incentive /punishment strategy to encourage people to recycle. There is no indication if the Council member is suggesting that we go to pay as you throw, advance disposal fees or other incentive based recycling so it appears unclear what this paragraph is referencing. Tenth Whereas paragraph: I have no problem with the first half of this paragraph but do have concerns over the section that reads "enhancing the current two -bin recycling at the transfer station by adding additional sort components ". This scenario has a number of potential problems. The national trend has been to move from multiple stream recycling to two stream recycling. The move to dual stream recycling has made it easier for residents and has proven to increase the rate of recycling. While there has been some movement toward single stream recycling, the downside to moving in this direction is increased contamination of the recycled material. On the other hand, adding more sort bins makes it more difficult for the general public, could reduce the amount of recycling that occurs, would probably add to the cost of recycling as additional trips would be required to transport the different bins, and creates issues regarding placement of the bins and design of the transfer stations. An additional consideration is the trend of the end market processing facilities to design and move to dual and single stream recycling. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Eleventh and Twelfth Whereas paragraphs: No comments or objections. Thirteenth Whereas paragraph: The language is very general but does not give any examples of such technologies that are actually operating and where they are located. Fourteenth Whereas paragraph: Industry experience suggests that technologies that use Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as a feedstock are not rapidly evolving and that either Mass Burn, RDF, Gasification or Pyrolysis remain the predominant technologies which are generally coupled with diversion and materials recovery programs. Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and 17th Paragraphs: No comments. As for the Be It Resolved Paragraphs: Since these are referencing proposed actions as opposed to reciting or asserting background information, the department has no comments. Thank you for allowing me to offer my comments on this resolution. Sincerely, BJ Leithead Todd DIRECTOR cc: Mayor William P. Kenoi Hawai'i County Council Members Environmental Management Commissioners Deputy Corporation Counsel Amy Self County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.