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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0918.005 2012-2014 O5o. 4S2-/ V Page 1 of2 w "6-S COUNTY COUNTY CLERIC t OF HAWAI'I I(A.4/ RECEIVED June 16, 2014 Time e /o:psi sy Hat �1��1/ Dear Councilpersons on the Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy sustainability: Eoff, Ford, Ilagan, Kanuha, Kern, Onishi, and Yoshimoto, Thank you for accepting my written testimony in support of Resolution 452- 14, asking the administration of the County of Hawaii to withdraw RFP #3044 and issue a new request to provide for eligibility of those entities which seek to maximize the output of compostables. And I would add that my request is that we seek an entity promoting 0-waste that would maximizing the use of our 2 million dollar sort station, removing these compostables, recyclables, and reuse items for alternate disposal or use, NOT incineration. Let's look for an entity that would educate the public and help promote source reduction of the solid waste stream by not importing non-recyclable materials such as Styrofoam that have alternatives. I had all but given up hope that we would be faced with a mass-burn incinerator that does not sort but instead incinerates plastics and batteries and possibly hazardous waste. I thank Councilwoman Wille for putting forth this resolution to seek alternatives to mass incineration. A mass incinerator, rather than a refuse-derived fuel incinerator that removes unburnable or recyclables, would not only release microscopic particulate into the air, but it produces hazardous ash that must be disposed of in the landfill. A past candidate for an incinerator here in Hilo, Wheelaborator, had to use a phosphate based treatment product (WES- PHix) on the ash to stabilize heavy metals and to prevent them from leaching into water systems. Simultaneously they used another chemical, dicalcium phosphate dehydrate powder (FESI-BOND), to combat the smell. , u There is a case in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts against Wheelabarator, with 7 million dollars in judgment penalties for violation of ■ 3 regulations including provisions of the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Materials Release Prevention and Response Act, Massachusetts Clean Air z m Act, and the Wetlands Protection Act (taf.org). u11 I do not know which entities have answered our RFP #3044, so am unable to http://webmail.ilhawaii.net/wm2/driver?nimlet=showcanvas 6/17/2014 Page 2 of 2 investigate their environmental records, because the information of which companies we are entertaining is not currently public information because our county is in the procurement phase. I visited the County Council Offices, was sent to the Mayor's Office who sent me to the Finance Department: Purchasing who sent me to the Environmental Management Offices, where I was finally given this information by a very helpful assistant. Regardless, I can only compare to a known entity we at one time were considering. This is a pivotal time: our President is currently asking for all of our cooperation in reducing carbon emissions that result from burning. We are training our school children to be stewards of the environment. Our island has pre-existing respiratory issues from volcanic emissions. Adding to these emissions is an unwise choice for our population. Just this morning, in speaking with a group of 6thand 7th graders, they voiced their concerns and their wishes and jointly composed the following letter: We the undersigned 6thand 7th grade students wish to ask our government to choose a waste-management system that does not burn everything but recycles as much as possible. We've learned the more you burn it is affecting the climate, takes away oxygen, and it is warming the earth. Thank you. Kaison, Kyra, Lexus, Dominic, David, Julius, Brandon, Clinton, Jongunny, Therin, Dave, and Shylee Mahalo for your time and for reading this request to honor Resolution 452- 14 and open up the RFP to alternative waste management entities who prioritize composting, recyclables, reuse and reduction of waste! Sandy Bonk PO Box 10927 Hilo, Hawaii 96721 English Teacher Hawaii DOE 7 ,d„,v67,460 http://webmail.ilhawaii.net/wm2/driver?nimlet=showcanvas 6/17/2014