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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0110.002 2016-2018 Eileen O'Hara Phone: (808) 965-2712 ° ;'','`4'• Fax: (808) 961-8912 Council Member :c?-* � •. Council District 4 ,'�`4 Email: eileen.ohara@hawaiicounty.gov Committee and Chair: Environmental ' Vice Chair: Planning Management Committee • P:4.o N;; `'� ' Agriculture, Water&Energy Sustainability Committee County of Hawaii Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 DATE: March 6, 2017 COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAI'I TO: Valerie T. Poindexter, Council Chair RECEIVED Tame :55 wr. By and Members of the Hawai`i County Council Date i 6 2 FROM: Eileen O'Hara, Council Member SUBJECT: Informational materials for the presentation by Hawaiian Earth Recycling in the EMC meeting on March 7, 2017 Attached please find informational materials for the presentation by Hawaiian Earth Recycling in EMC meeting agenda for March 7, 2017. It would be greatly appreciated if copies of the material can be distributed to council members prior to the EMC meeting. Thank you for your attention to this matter. EO:kvc Att. Comm.No, I IO . 2 Ref.To: eigr4G Ref.Date Marc,k Composting Program Updates By Marvin Min of Hawaiian Earth Recycling Objectives Today • Introduce Hawaiian Earth to the Environmental Committee • To provide the Committee with updates on our operations at: • West Hawaii Organics Facility (WHOP) • Kealakehe Regional Transfer Station (KRTS) • East Hawaii Organics Facility (EHOF) •Composting Phase • Invessel Composting Phase II •Outreach and Education Efforts • Questions and Answers Company and Culture • Hawaiian Earth is the largest greenwaste recycling company in Hawaii. • We recycle over 140,000 tons annually, of greenwaste, foodwaste, and wood; turning them into compost, soil amendments, nursery blends, mulching materials, and erosion control products used extensively throughout Hawaii. • Hawaiian Earth is locally owned by the principal of Hawaii's leading solid waste and recycling hauler who's been in business for over 50 years! Company and Culture • Hawaiian Earth has 49 employees • 13 employees on the Big Island • 36 employees on Oahu • 100% local product made by employees! 100% local Company and Culture • Since we first opened on Oahu in 1993, we have recycled over 1,529,897 tons of greenwaste • That is enough material to fill Diamond Head Crater up to the top and spilling over! • Since we first started operations on the Big Island in January 2013, we have diverted over 159,000 tons of greenwaste and untreated wooden pallets and recycled them into mulch used for growing plants West Hawaii Organics Facility s 4 I WHOF Operations • Greenwaste and untreated pallets are received in the yard • These materials are loaded into the grinder for mulching • After grinding, the fresh much is moved into rows using a wheel loader (c) Hawaiian Earth WHOF Treatment for Little Fire Ants (LFA) • The fresh mulch rows are monitored for temperature and turned inside out until the moisture is gone and the temperature is stable • LFA testing is performed each month by the Hawaii Ant Lab (HAL) (c) Hawaiian Earth WHOF Treatment for LFA • No Little Fire Ants (LFA) have been found in the treated mulch • The generation of heat during the treatment process and the absence of water kill the LFA (c) Hawaiian Earth WHOF Treatment for LFA • This treatment process has been approved as effective in killing LFA by the Hawaii Ant Lab (c) Hawaiian Earth WHOF Challenges • Invasive Species Management • Composting the mulch will control all invasive species • Although the LFA treatment program is successful, there is no supply of fresh water to properly compost the mulch to assure treatment of all invasive species including Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) • The water supply at WHOF is salt water • If the salty water is added to the mulch for composting needs, the high salt content will make the finished compost unfit for use in growing healthy plants WHOF Positive Outcomes • 26-28,000 Tons are diverted from the West Hawaii Landfill each year • Greenwaste and untreated wooden pallets are ground into high quality mulch • The mulch is treated for the LFA successfully • Monthly inspections by the HAL assure successful treatment WHOF Positive Outcomes • Treated mulch is made available to the public for free • Loading services are provided for free • Last year over 74,000 cubic yards of mulch was distributed from the WHOF Kealakehe Mulch Yard Kealakehe Mulch Loading Operations • Treated mulch from WHOF is transferred in from the WHOF • Self loading and assisted loading services • Free loading for residents • Loading fees charged to commercial haulers • Last year over 42,000 cubic yards of mulch were distributed from this yard East Hawaii Organics Facility -�. _ -�. �' mit �M:�=•�� ' 'I,EA AF Mt spfi CARP _ - �iEHbRlISS- PRESENTYOUR - COA NTY SCALE TICKET EHOF Phase One Operations • Greenwaste and untreated pallets are received in the yard • These materials are loaded into the grinder for mulching • After grinding, the fresh much is moved into rows to be composted (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Composting Program for Control of Invasive Species • As needed, water is added to the fresh mulch rows to start the composting process at 50% moisture. • The composting mulch is monitored for temperature and moisture every day. (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Composting Program for Control of Invasive Species • When the temperature exceeds 131 degrees, the composting row is turned inside out at least 5 times in 15 days with a wheel loader. • Additional water is added as needed to keep the composting process active. (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Composting Program for Control of Invasive Species • Once the mulch has been composted for at least 15 days and turned inside out at least 5 times with temperatures exceeding 131 degrees, the mulch has now been sanitized. (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Composting Program for Control of Invasive Species • This process has been proven to control: — Little Fire Ants — Coqui Frogs — Coffee Berry Borer — Rapid Ohia Death — Weed seeds — E coli — Fecal coliform — Salmonella (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Composting Program for Control of Invasive Species • Once the treatment is complete, the composted mulch is sampled and sent to a third party lab to confirm that the treatment process is successful. (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Composting Program for Control of Invasive Species • This treatment process has been approved as effective in killing LFA by the Hawaii Ant Lab • HAL inspects the EHOF monthly for LFA. • HER treats the yard for LFA by a third party vendor each month (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Composting Program for Control of Invasive Species • The State Department of Agriculture agrees that this treatment process will kill the pathogen that causes Rapid Ohia Death. (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Challenges • Invasive Species Management • Although the LFA treatment program is successful, we must stay alert to the presence of invasive species every day • High Customer Traffic • Some days exceed 200 customers • High Demand for Mulch • More demand than supply EHOF Positive Outcomes • 10-11,000 Tons are diverted from the Hilo Landfill each year • Greenwaste and untreated wooden pallets are ground into high quality mulch • The mulch is treated for invasive species successfully • Monthly inspections by the HAL assure successful treatment for LFA EHOF Positive Outcomes • Treated mulch is made available to the public for free • Loading services are provided for free • Last year nearly 67,000 cubic yards of mulch was distributed from EHOF The Composting Process What is Compost? • Compost is the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth. ,,,, Hawaiian Earth What is Composting? The Process of Composting is a method of speeding up the natural decomposition process under controlled conditions. Raw organic materials are converted to compost by a succession of organisms. 32 • ,'O, M,, p 0 I. r i �r j`�`'rf 1 l ,1 ,4 J �. �" �- . C s .ry�> - I.�H� �' � �' � k � `y.PfF � 1 `'�, i . t y � `-�� n� •�. � �'� - -- - �� , � ry_ Jt - t �r. .." �.. `a►�„ �'rrlr 'c ,, f .. � � , '.+ `�' i"'�� 1,�...�- .,l < k'h Rhe �� +,�� „r. br '•lowi � - ♦p yam'\, w r '� ,, +” • R r^ "' .1 .. �`�,�� ` i^' „ � �" • i .i � - IR • ."' �� ; ` r ti • ': �,cD ,� � 'R •fir 7`� r,R ; y� + Ory �,• � � �� * �Y • R *P. ..� _ rY Y `'. v w� _ r •�,G . R ti•� bs! � _ ' 11 �. ",� } h. //}�� y � . �� r y, � ! - .1�`, f � • Pr , 4,� �' �. ;� � ��y, r/. r, � � f �_, \1� A�W',1�+ � .! � �4'i� ■. '� y� �- '' �" sA�r ��°• � � ` i �h.. ,a. .a..:. � / �, � �' ,a„rr a . ,yam r. #. I - ' �� /�$ /` 1 j V •rr 1ti - �/ if 1 �•a � ;� \ $sem` I / � ,.ry �r�.� ` D - /'fly '~F� •�~ '% ` _ ` 1`' ` ]S� ��R1.1 K[ Into Compost like this Y 34 EHOF Phase I Composting Site �. Phase One Site,.-, 450 feet n . � _ r ti r sr �. Phase Two Site 2,100 feet EHOF Phase Two Operations WIDO' W4 f- afth," i Sk, TM m- - IL - W4 f- afth," EHOF Phase Two Operations • Construction Site • Kiyosaki Quarry • Original Construction Completion Date April 2018 • Testing Phase ~� — Up to 6 months Title to Facility transferred to the County upon proof of successful operation by October 2018 (c) Hawaiian Earth �. Phase One Site,.-, 450 feet n . � _ r ti r sr �. Phase Two Site 2,100 feet EHOF Phase Two Operations • Waste Streams that would be composted in the County owned Facility include: • Greenwaste • Untreated pallets and lumber yard scraps (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Phase Two Operations • Foodwaste from: — Households — Restaurants — Schools — Grocery stores — Resorts • Biodegradable/ Compostable food containers • Paper • Cardboard (c) Hawaiian Earth EHOF Phase Two Operations • Waste streams are currently delivered to the facilities from homeowners, landscapers, commercial haulers, and County vehicles. • It is anticipated that the 75% discount on tipping fees for organics diversion of these waste streams will be a big incentive for restaurants, resorts, schools, and grocery stores. EHOF Phase Two Operations • Commercial Haulers will have to respond to the demand for these diversion services. EHOF Phase Two Operations • County will need to establish a program to service the residential diversion • Hawaiian Earth committed to provide one million compostable bags for County residents to use in their kitchens to collect their food scraps • These bags can be filled with food scraps and then closed and tied just like a regular trash bag EHOF Phase Two Operations • County could consider an RFP for commercial haulers to set containers at the County transfer stations and collect them within their daily routes. • This would provide a foodwaste collection solution for residents with no capital requirements by the County Outreach and Education • Hawaiian Earth has begun education and outreach efforts with schools and other institutions • Phase One efforts have been focused on the use of mulch in building soil to grow food and the importance of recycling • Phase Two broadens the education to restaurants, school cafeterias, and resorts on how to separate foodwaste from the waste stream Outreach and Education • Hawaiian Earth has also committed to work with the commercial haulers to help them set up foodwaste collection programs Summary • We continue to fulfill our Phase One commitments to the County • We are now composting the green waste at EHOF for the control of invasive species • We are continuing the treatment at WHOF for LFA • Monthly monitoring by HAL for LFA at both sites Summary • Although we were on schedule prior to the Stop Work Notice, HER understands and appreciates the concerns that the County has raised so we are more than happy and flexible to work out another start-up date that would meet the county's needs. • Hawaiian Earth has enjoyed a friendly and productive relationship with the County and hopes to continue that relationship in the future. Question s? Mahalo.'