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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1048.006 2012-2014Recycle Hawai P.O. Box 4847 • Hilo, Hawaii • 96720 Office Tel: 808.969.2012 • Fax: 808.969.2014 www.recyclehawaii.org • info @recyclehawaii.org FEIN: 99-0293381 To: Honorable Margaret Wille Chair, Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability RE: Resolution 525 Date: September 30, 2014 PIA14% N rn w C) M Aloha to Councilwoman Wille and all councilors who have taken an active interest in this matter. Recycle Hawaii is pleased to see this effort being made by Ms. Wille to ensure that those responsible for handling the county's solid waste are complying with policies established by the council. As you know it is the duty of this body to set those policies and when the department fails to enact them, it is also your duty to step in. C) o� r CD =� a In our position as the state's longest standing and most active recycling organization, we are keenly aware that much more can be done to promote the `three Rs.' We spend much of our time interacting with the public and we can report that both the citizens who elected you and the visitors who travel to Hawaii County want to see more recycling opportunities. On a regular basis we receive complaints from visitors who are sorely disappointed they can't show their respect for our beautiful environment by recycling when they are here. It is not enough to set zero waste goals. Going from a 34- to an 80% diversion rate requires a can -do attitude, an approach that is dynamic, excellent communication between all parties involved and a way for feedback to shape the process. Each time a barrier to recycling is overcome, the public needs to be engaged and informed. The provisions on this resolution requiring the updating of signage are crucial and contracts moving forward should allow for changes that accommodate increased recycling. As an example, Business Services Hawaii, which is the company that has the county contract to handle the mixed recycling bins, now has an end -user who accepts cartons. But the county signage does not reflect this change and well- meaning people refrain from putting cartons in the bins, when, in fact, Business Services Hawaii is happy to take them. The same is true for #4 plastic, which is used for things like shrink wrap and plastic packaging. Comm. N ` O ` so 10 Ref. To: C Ref. Date Jt _ Recycle Hawaii is a 501 (c) (3) educational non - profit organization serving the Island of Hawaii. The actions outlined in this resolution are important first steps that will increase recycling rates while laying the foundation for a strategy that can accommodate changes as they occur. Removing organics from the waste stream is a practice that is long, long overdue. The existing prohibition of the use of residential bins by commercial haulers who are collecting residential discards is a significant impediment to recycling that just doesn't make sense. The lack of facilities for commercial recycling in Kona is another, even greater failure of the system, one which we also receive complaints about on a regular basis. There is some debate within our organization over the call for a five -bin system at all transfer stations. Some feel that requiring better sorting will be an impediment; others believe that preserving the value of discarded materials is an important goal. On this issue we would like to see the resolution amended to call for a covered, five -bin recycling system at major collection points alongside the existing mixed bins. This would allow those who want to make the extra effort or those who only generate discards like high - quality white paper to preserve the value of those materials and support the system by helping to increase revenue for the recyclers who service the bins. If this additional sorting proves practical and beneficial then it can be expanded to include all the stations. We would also like to amend the resolution by requiring the county workers who monitor activities at the transfer stations to intervene when they see people putting cardboard and green waste into the rubbish chutes and redirect them to the proper drop -offs. Thank you again to Councilwoman Wille for her foresight and dedication. We urge all councilors to vote for Resolution 525. Sincerely, Paul J. Buklarewicz Executive Director Recycle Hawai'i Recycle Hawaii is a 501 (c) (3) educational non - profit organization serving the Island of Hawaii.