HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0462.003 2018-2020 ��
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Murashige, Laura
From: Sylvia Dolena « @gnloUzom>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2Ol910:11AM
To: Council Testimony, Chung,Aaron; Richards,Tim; Kierkiewicz,Ashley; David, K4ai|e;
Kanea|ii-K|ainfe|der, Matt;Vi||egas, Rebecca; Lee Loy, Sue; Poindexter, Valerie; Eoff,
Karen
Subject: OPPOSE Res. Res. 301-l9
To: COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS
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7D: COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,WATER ������ ��� � ������
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MANAGEMENT -- --
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HERBERT M, "TDM' RICHARDS, III Chair and Presiding Officer
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MATT KANEAL0^ Vice Chair —
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Aloha, In response to Resolution 301: waste and energy, I oppose any consideration of incineration as a solution to waste
management. Please oppose Resolution 3O1for the following reasons:
- Trash incineration is incredibly bad for the climate, releasing 2.5 times as much carbon dioxide CO2 to make the
same amount ofelectricity mnocoal power plant. This ioevidenced bynational data compiled bythe U.S,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their eGRID database. CLIMATE CRISIS IS A FACT. We cannot afford to
release more greenhouse gases into the Earth's atmosphere. `
" Incinerators are expensive toconstruct and expensive bukeep running.
= Incinerators nramhe only a few, often dongorous,jobsfor people in the community where they operate.
° Incinerators cause anet outflow ofmoney from small communities.
• Incinerators rely on recyclable trash aofuel. LET'S BUILD RECYCLING FACILITIES INSTEAD.
• Incineration competes with nacyc|ing, including composting. It is the lazy way to deal with vvaote, and this laziness
leads to'nnoredioxins in air, land and water.
• Incinerators donot reduce the volume o[waste.
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_ n Ash and gases coming out ofanincinerator are just aomuch waste asisput into the incinerator.
• Incinerators convert garbage to another form of pollution, which are dioxins. Dioxins are more difficult to control and
even more toxic.
= Incinerators onaahe a new solid vveate problem: toxic ash more difficult to deal with in m eoha manner.
• Incinerators generate one fourth of the energy that can be conserved by recycling the same materials.
• VVaote4o-energyincineration does not reduce dependence onpetroleum.
• Incinerating plastic and tires prolongs petroleum dependence: plastic and tires are made from petroleum.
= Waste-to-energy" incinerators must operate at full capacity to realize assumed waste reduction volume.
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EPA has identified incinerators as the primary source of dioxins in the environment.
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Dioxins are chemicals produced byburning plastics.
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Dioxin ioone ofthe most toxic and dangerous chemicals ever tested.
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Minute doses of dioxin cause nonuer, birth defects, reproductive and other disorders.
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"Environmental dioxins increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among the population living in the vicinity of a
municipal solid waste /noinenator." [Epiƒaon/o600: 2003l
Experiences in other communities:
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• "Waste-to-energy" incinerators seldom operate sdfull capacity.
• The amount of garbage that the local communities would feed incinerators has been overestimated.
• The cost 0fincineration has been higher than the communities were initially led to believe,
• In order to comply with the guaranteed tonnage clause typically in contracts, communities are sometimes
subsidizing incinerators to make upfor negative financial outcomes. Comm. No,
z
Ref.To
Ref. Dafe 6Er 16 2019
■ Promised reduction in waste volume is not always achieved, leaving more"residuals"--ash.
Proven alternatives to reduce waste, avoid incineration, and generate savings for local government and businesses.
■ Transfer stations in rural communities.
■ Municipal-scale composting of pre-and post-consumer food scraps, green waste, and cardboard.
• Local recycling-based manufacturing.
■ Reduction in waste generation within business firms and government agencies.
■ Purchase of recycled and recyclable materials by business firms and government agencies.
■ Producer responsibility policies, also known as product stewardship.
Proven alternatives are (and incineration is not):
Diversified, without putting "all eggs in one basket."
Community-based, favoring local business, local employment, local sales, and local income.
Clean, allowing healthy lifestyles and preservation of aesthetic assets.
Adaptable to changes in markets, waste stream contents, and technology.
Efficient in the use of energy and other resources.
Res. 301-19: URGES THE DIRECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO
COLLABORATE AND DEVELOP A PLAN FOR A WASTE STREAM REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY FOR
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GENERATION FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII Seeks
to address an increasing supply of solid waste through a waste stream reduction technology mechanism that
would conserve County funds, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and improve environmental conditions on Hawaii
Island.
Reference: Comm. 462 Intr. by: Mr. Richards
Regards,
Sylvia Dolena, Pele Lani Farm, LLC
District 5,Mountain View, HI