HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0918.045 2012-2014Resolution 452-14: Seeking a revised request for solid
waste proposal to include composting
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAPI
RECEIVED
Issues:
Date I
1. Proper planning should require that whenever this county embarks upon a path to
resolve an issue it ought to seek a solution that, if possible, addresses other related
needs in the process. Characteristically this is seldom done, however, in the effort to
handle solid waste there is a host of other synergistic opportunities that relate, and
they need to be assembled into one solution, as opposed to being addressed
individually. Among the issues of concern are shoreline degradation, green waste
handling, air emissions and the effort to attain a "zero waste" status.
2. It should be considered that the waste to energy request for proposal currently
pursued will require at the very least the entire island's waste stream in order to
function at a level of efficiency needed to justify its cost.
3. In fact, island wide collection will be required to allow for an economy of scale
needed to ensure the success of any waste reduction facility and further, West
Hawaii is where that facility should be located. (Trucking waste east or west
amounts to the same thing)
4. Aerobic composting should be considered as an alternative to burning because it
resolves several other issues and 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.
5. Historically, federal funding has been dramatically more available for agriculture
than for energy and therefore there could be federal funding available
6. We are in fact polluting our near shore waters and the only way to reverse the
resulting damage is to add organics to the soil we use in our coastal development .
7. Organic based soil currently sells for upwards of $80/cubic yard- higher than
anywhere else on the planet and into a perpetually unsatisfied market which will
only increase, making what we consider waste in fact a valuable resource.
8. 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 insists on
ignoring the obvious degradation of our ocean environment while now single
mindedly pursuing what amounts to a significant source of air pollution instead.
Kelly Greenwell
PO Box 1779
Kailua Kona, HI 96745
No. el 16, J
ikuf. TO: t-1/ce"*tCLf
Ref. Date_ L 18
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