HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0177.149 1998-2000
FROM Nature Walk Girts PHONE N0. 808 322 5641 May. 13 1999 09~14RM P1
Date: May 13, 1999
To: County Council Members
Hawaii County
From: M. Ross and Jane F. Sheldon
77-350 Ainanani St
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Message:
Dear County Council Members:
We have been reading lately in the news that the Mayor's proposed budget would
decrease funding for recycling by about 50%. This is most certainly an example of
shortsightedness on the paR of our current administration given the findings of the
Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. Every study in Hawaii and in every other
state in the nation has shown that it makes good financial sense to spend tax dollars on
recycling in order to avoid the higher costs of landfilling. When the Department of
Public Works gathered data to determine solid waste costs, it was very cleaz from the
data that recycling was far .more cost effective than landfilling. The Mayor's proposed
budget, while appearing to save money, will in fact cost the taxpayers of Hawaii County
even more.
An equally strong argument can be made for composting green waste. In a state where
so much of our "garbage" is made up of green waste it is criminal for the county to haul
green waste from transfer stations to the landfill. At long last, we have alternatives to
landfilling in both East and West Hawaii via conunercial composting. They are finally in
place and they are working. County government should do everything in its power to
help these composting projects flourish instead of threatening their existence.
At a time when every city in the world is working toward more aggressive recycling, we
here on the Big Island are taking a step backward. We urge the council to reject the
Mayor's proposed budget and to support recycling at current levels or higher.
S/itt~cerel ,
M. Ross and Jane F.Sheldon
Ph: 322-4310 Fax: 322-5641 177 9
Comm. No.
File No. B u D
Ref. To: COV4P Ifs
Ref. Date MAY 1 3 19C~