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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0918.035 2012-2014 Page 1 of 2 P) COLA N CLI Murashige, Laura CAOMM. qI From: Russell Ruderman [russell @islandnaturals.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 10:10 AM To: County Council; vpoindexter @co.hawaii.hi.us;jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us; Greggor Ilagan; Kern, Zendo; Brenda Ford; Dru Kanuha; ,. n keoff @co.hawaii.hi.us; mwille@co.hawaii.hi.us on Subject: Support Reso 452 c T o g-- -- Attachments: Reso 452 Ruderman testimony.docx Testimony in support of Reso 452-14 -D cp �rn = Aloha Councilmembers, I am testifying as a private citizen who served on the most recent County of Hawaii Solid waste Advisory Committee (SWAC). The committee was composed of 24 members from a wide range of viewpoints. The Committee submitted its conclusions to the County Council and Mayor with unanimous consensus. After studying every available incineration/waste conversion technology in commercial operation anywhere in the world, the SWAC concluded that there is no technology available suitable for the Big Island. Partly this is because our waste stream is not large enough to economically support any such system, and partly because, based on this shortfall, such an installation will work to undermine our stated goal of reducing waste and eventually, zero waste. I support the Mayor's desire to address our solid waste problem. I also urge the Mayor and the County Council to read the SWAC report which the County commissioned and paid good money for, including national leading researchers and our island's stakeholders. Then consider taking the recommendation of those who studied this more than anyone else, and move toward zero waste instead of a trash-hungry installation that will require burning everything to be economical, while we continue to import compost and organic materials at great cost. These materials could be manufactured here as useful byproducts of our waste stream instead. I also note that more than one municipality in the U.S. is facing financial crises and even bankruptcy as a result of an unsustainable commitment to such a facility. I can provide further details if requested. I repeat because it is so important: The SWAC's conclusion that an incinerator or waste-to- energy plant is unsuited for the Big Island was a unanimous conclusion of the diverse stakeholders who served on your County Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Comm, o Ref. To: ' - . Ref. Date JUL 1 7/17/2014 Page 2 of 2 Mahalo, Russell Ruderman Solid Waste Advisory Committee member Russellnrussellruderman.com 808-443-1703 Mahalo, Russell Russell Ruderman Island Naturals Markets 808 443 1703 russell @islandnaturals.com 7/17/2014 Testimony in support of Reso 452-14 I am testifying as a private citizen who served on the most recent County of Hawaii Solid waste Advisory Committee (SWAC). The committee was composed of 24 members from a wide range of viewpoints. The Committee submitted its conclusions to the County Council and Mayor with unanimous consensus. After studying every available incineration/waste conversion technology in commercial operation anywhere in the world, the SWAC concluded that there is no technology available suitable for the Big Island. Partly this is because our waste stream is not large enough to economically support any such system, and partly because, based on this shortfall, such an installation will work to undermine our stated goal of reducing waste and eventually, zero waste. I support the Mayor's desire to address our solid waste problem. I also urge the Mayor and the County Council to read the SWAC report which the County commissioned and paid good money for, including national leading researchers and our island's stakeholders. Then consider taking the recommendation of those who studied this more than anyone else, and move toward zero waste instead of a trash- hungry installation that will require burning everything to be economical,while we continue to import compost and organic materials at great cost. These materials could be manufactured here as useful byproducts of our waste stream instead. I also note that more than one municipality in the U.S. is facing financial crises and even bankruptcy as a result of an unsustainable commitment to such a facility. I can provide further details if requested. I repeat because it is so important: The SWAC's conclusion that an incinerator or waste-to-energy plant is unsuited for the Big Island,was a unanimous conclusion of the diverse stakeholders who served on your County Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Mahalo, Russell Ruderman Solid Waste Advisory Committee member Russell@russellruderman.com 808-443-1703