HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 570 Draft 01 2014-2016OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY
Meeting: Environmental Management Committee—August 16, 2016
Action: Withdrawn by Introducer (Wille)
Re: Res 570-16; Comm. 955 (2014-2016 term)
COUNTY OF HAWAII
STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 570 16
A RESOLUTION URGING THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO INITIATE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ISLAND -WIDE SOLID WASTE PROGRAM IN
ANTICIPATION OF THE CLOSURE OF THE SOUTH HILO SANITARY LANDFILL.
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 356-07, Draft 2, a resolution to embrace and adopt the
principles of Zero Waste as a long-term policy directive for Hawaii County, was adopted on
December 19, 2007; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hawai'i's Path to Zero Waste final report of December 2009,
includes the directive to "construct no new landfills in East Hawai'i"; and
WHEREAS, currently most refuse in East Hawaii is disposed of at the South Hilo
Sanitary Landfill, and the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill is expected to close within the next four
years; and
WHEREAS, according to Energy Justice Network, the umbrella Zero Waste Hierarchy
Network places landfills as the worst available option; or more specifically, the solid waste
program options, from best to worst, are: product redesign, source reduction, reuse,
recycling/composting, waste composition research and material recovery, biological treatment,
and sanitary landfill; and
WHEREAS, available alternative solid waste technologies are rated in the most desirable
top two tiers by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, while waste -to -energy rated
in the third most desirable tier, and landfills rated in the least desirable tier; and
WHEREAS, even considering the County's recently implemented enhanced greenwaste
mulch and compost program that is expected to be fully operational by July 1, 2018, the County
will still need to have an alternative plan lined up for East Hawaii non -recyclable and non-
compostable waste; and
WHEREAS, the 22 transfer stations around the island are undergoing upgrading and
renovations, which should be considered in any new long-term plan for solid waste disposal; and
WHEREAS, island residents are not amenable to a mass burn "waste to energy" facility
for many reasons, including that it is not financially feasible and would be environmentally
damaging; and
WHEREAS, island residents, including the Kohala Resorts, are also not amenable to the
alternative of trucking all East Hawaii non -recyclable and non-compostable waste across island
to West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill; and
WHEREAS, the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill is extremely expensive and
modifications to that landfill arrangement should be considered; and
WHEREAS, soliciting island wide solutions will provide the opportunity to concurrently
consider new approaches and efficiencies, including greater control over the waste stream and
expanded public education, as well as new opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle solid waste;
and
WHEREAS, designing a comprehensive island -wide plan to address the island's future
solid waste issues is more effective than continuing to address solid waste disposal and handling
in a piecemeal manner; now, therefore,
2
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
urges the Director of the Department of Environmental Management to initiate a Request For
Proposals for a Comprehensive Island -wide Solid Waste Program that will provide an island -
wide sustainable solid waste disposal program, that would be compatible with the County's Zero
Waste Policy and the Department's enhanced mulch and compost program, would not burn solid
waste, would aim to recycle and reuse more than 80% of solid waste, and would result in a
reduction of the total current tipping fees.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Mayor William P. Kenoi, the Director of the Department of
Environmental Management, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Director of
Finance.
Dated at
Hawaii, this day of
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on
ATTEST
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
3
20
F HAWAII
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES .NOES ABS EX
CHUNG
DAVID
EOFF
ILAGAN
KANUHA
ONISHI
PALEKA
POINDEXTER
WILLE
Reference: C-95
RESOLUTION NO. 570 16