HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0111.005 2014-2016 41110
support for Resolution 73-15 for zero waste education
for Hawai'i County Council Environment Committee, 10:30 AM Tuesday, February 17, 2015
from Cory Harden, Sierra Club, Moku Loa group, Box 1137, Hilo, Hawai'i 96721
808-959-7747 333cory(7gmail.com
Thank you to Margaret Wille for introducing this resolution.
Mayor Kenoi made a wise decision not to pursue the incinerator. So...where will all our garbage go?
I hope it will be reduced, reused, and recycled, as we embrace this opportunity to move towards zero
waste.
The Zero Waste International Alliance points out that zero waste requires nothing less than a cultural
shift.
A zero waste cultural shift requires changing ingrained habits and mindsets. For example, National Sierra
Club policy says zero waste includes:
"Reducing over-consumption by encouraging the consumer to eliminate the
purchase of unnecessary goods and packaging, especially single use, disposable
items. [like all those fast-food containers]
Facilitating community economic development and local jobs in repair, refurbishing
and recycling.
Internalizing environmental and social costs in the prices of products and services.
[instead of allowing businesses to externalize many costs—as when the County pays
for landfills overflowing with fast food containers, diapers, pens, ink cartridges, and more]
Encouraging 'Cradle to cradle'design and management systems that cycle all
materials safely back into the environment or the marketplace."
[instead of waiting till something breaks then wondering what to do with it, be
proactive—design things so they are easy to reuse, repurpose, or recycle]
A zero waste cultural shift requires education. The Zero Waste International Alliance recommends
"significant investment in public outreach and education", and our 2009 County Integrated Resources and
Solid Waste Management plan recommends public education.
San Francisco's award-winning zero waste program includes outreach and education as a vital
component.They put huge pictures of garbage on the sides of their trucks to show garbage is actually a
resource that can be recycled and composted, with the caption "recycling changes everything".
They put posters in bus shelters, buses, and public places; they have street booths and pass out leaflets.
've been recycling for years, but there's always new things to learn.Things keep changing—what to
avoid buying,what can be recycled, how to sort things,who accepts what, etc.
Please support this resolution. Mahalo.
COMM; No. ( 1 1 ,5
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