HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1048.005 2012-2014PIAWM
SUPPORT FOR RESOLUTION 525 -14 TO INCREASE REUSE - REDUCE - RECYCLE PROGRAN(E
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for Hawai'i County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water, and Energy Sustainability m
1:30 PM Tuesday, September 30, 2014, Hilo Council chambers
from Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Hawai'i 96721 808- 959 -7747 333cory camail.com w
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Incineration and landfilling are supposed to be the lowest priorities for solid waste, per State and CoLgy
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policy. But the administration is raising a lot of eyebrows on both incineration and landfilling.
INCINERATION
All three finalists for the waste reduction facility are incinerator companies.
Six months ago, at a pre -bid conference for the incinerator, Michael Kaha "signed in as the Wheelabrator
representative ".
Three months ago, Wheelabrator was picked as one of three finalists for the incinerator project.
One month ago, Kaha was "named to a newly created position as the county's deputy solid waste division
chief."
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Honolulu has the H -Power incinerator, and the city is having trouble generating enough rubbish to fulfill
the contract.
H -Power is run by Covanta Energy, which is another finalist for our incinerator.
Pacific Waste in Kona is planning to build its own incinerator, which would reduce the amount of rubbish
going to the County incinerator.
The administration tells us that saying no to an incinerator means we'd have to truck waste to
Pu'uanahulu, which would require changing an ordinance. But surely the administration realizes that
saying yes to an incinerator means we'd have to truck waste to Hilo, which would require changing the
same ordinance.
LANDFILLING
The County called for 80% of solid waste to be diverted from the landfill by 2013. But in fiscal year 20121
2013, the amount was only 34 %- -not even halfway there.
Five years ago, County Council called for a plan and an ordinance to divert food, paper, and compostable
organics from landfills or incineration. There's still no plan, and no ordinance.
ZERO WASTE
...is a goal adopted by our County. So we should support this resolution, which includes
• requiring commercial haulers to offer recycling
• allowing commercial haulers to use County facilities for recyclables, compostables, and
re- usables
• updating recycling center signs so people sort before throwing, saving the County the expense of
sorting afterwards
• having green waste bins at all transfer stations
Recycling generates jobs. Diversion of food, paper, and compostables would help build up our soil.
Please support this resolution. Mahalo.
Comm. N . 11 Mr. • S
Ref. To: c
Ref. Date 2014