HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0944.046 2014-2016 comments on Communication 944.39 re. Packaging Task Force -
for Hawai'i County Council Committee on Environmental Management
1:00 pm Tuesday, September 20, 2016
from Cory Harden, Hilo 959-7747
ew .
Briefly, I want to mention I was pleasantly surprised to learn about efforts by Zippy's to use a '
environmentally friendly packaging. .rte
'0-
But mostly I want to focus on the proposed BioEnergy waste facility. Communication 944.39 includee4he
Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA)for BioEnergy. But there are many questions.
First and foremost, where is the County support?This is a $125 million facility that proposes to "divegTha .>,M
majority of the island's waste stream from its landfills" (1) -- up to 400 tons a day. But Bobby Jean� =r
Leithead-Todd, head of the County Department of Environmental Management, says she is"neutral')
on the project. I couldn't find any record of County testimony to the Legislature in support of BioEnergy's
state special revenue bond. And BioEnergy is not in sync with our County's zero waste policy.
Where is the public involvement?The Environmental Assessment came out of the blue with only 30 days
to comment.The last day is Thursday.
What will it cost taxpayers? If BioEnergy diverts so much waste that the County fails to meet its quota for
tonnage dumped into the Kona landfill,the County has to pay a penalty. (Not that I support this"put or
pay" idea.)
What if we count on BioEnergy to handle most of our waste,then they go belly up?They plan to make
money by generating engineered fuel, biofuel, and electric power, but it's unclear if they'll find any buyers.
Why did BioEnergy ignore County Planning's recommendation to consult with HELCO on the
Environmental Assessment, even though they plan to produce electricity?
Why did BioEnergy also ignore County Planning's recommendation to consult with Sierra Club,the
Hawai'i Island and Kona-Kohala Chambers of Commerce, and Federal, State, and County elected
officials?
Elements of the BioEnergy project—anaerobic digestion, methane capture, biogas—could help move us
towards our County's zero waste goal. But planning behind closed doors, with pressure on decision-
makers from the looming closure of the Hilo landfill, doesn't make this waste proposal smell very good.
(1) BioEnergy DEA
(2) Waste facility intrigues, Hawai'i Tribune-Herald, 8-25-16
qL4LO
comm. No.
Ref.Ref. Date sP 2 114.71 . .._