HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0918.001 2012-2014 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
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Resolution 452-14: Seeking a revised request for soli
waste proposal to include composting
Issues:
1. The first question we need ask is how does this county's "zero waste" policy
correlate with an increasing demand for energy if that energy is to be generated by
burning waste?
2. The process currently envisioned (waste to energy) will require the entire island's
waste stream in order to operate at a level of efficiency needed to justify its cost.
3. Further,this waste to energy path eliminates the opportunity for any other method
(geothermal, solar,wind) to be pursued. There is not enough room for multiple
procedures in this market.
4. Since island wide transfer will be required in order to ensure the success of either
energy or a composted end product,West Hawaii is where the facility needs to be
located. (Trucking waste east or west amounts to the same thing)
5. The technology for composting has no patent or proprietary issues or expensive
equipment- it is a natural process and therefore a whole lot less costly, and a
number of models for doing so exist around the world.
6. Historically, federal funding has been dramatically more available for agriculture
than for energy.
7. We are in fact polluting our near shore waters and the only way to stop the process
is by adding organics to the soil we use in our coastal development- our life blood.
8. Organic based soil sells for upwards of$80/cubic yard- higher than anywhere else
on the planet and into a perpetually unsatisfied market.
9. This issue could conceivably become a legal matter wherein the county of Hawaii
will need to explain to the EPA or perhaps concerned citizens why it has insisted on
ignoring the obvious degradation of'our ocean environment while now actively
pursuing even more air pollution instead.
Comm. No., •
Ref.To: 2 w 'S,�
Ref. Date JUN 1 1 2014