HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0462.010 2018-2020 Murashige, Laura
From: Mary Kim <MaryKiml722@hotmail.com> EP 16 Ph 4: 03
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2019 3:30 PM ills -
To: Kierkiewicz,Ashley, David, Maile; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt;Villegas, Rebecca; Lee Loy,
Sue; Poindexter,Valerie; Eoff, Karen; Richards,Tim; Chung,Aaron; Council Testimony
Subject: Oppose Resolution 301
Aloha, In response to Resolution 301: waste and energy, I oppose any consideration of incineration as a solution
to waste management. Please oppose Resolution 301 for 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 of electricity as a coal power plant. This is evidenced by national data compiled by the 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 to construct and expensive to keep running.
§ Incinerators create only a few, often dangerous,jobs for people in the community where they operate.
§ Incinerators cause a net outflow of money from small communities.
§ Incinerators rely on recyclable trash as fuel. LET'S BUILD RECYCLING FACILITIES INSTEAD.
§ Incineration competes with recycling, including composting. It is the lazy way to deal with waste, and this
laziness leads to more dioxins in air, land and water.
§ Incinerators do not reduce the volume of waste.
§ Ash and gases coming out of an incinerator are just as much waste as is put 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 create a new solid waste problem: toxic ash more difficult to deal with in a safe manner.
§ Incinerators generate one fourth of the energy that can be conserved by recycling the same materials.
§ Waste-to-energy incineration does not reduce dependence on petroleum.
§ 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.
§ EPA has identified incinerators as the primary source of dioxins in the environment.
§ Dioxins are chemicals produced by burning plastics.
§ Dioxin is one of the most toxic and dangerous chemicals ever tested.
§ Minute doses of dioxin cause cancer, birth defects, reproductive and other disorders.
§ "Environmental dioxins increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among the population living in the
vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator." [Epidemiology, 2003]
Experiences in other communities:
§ "Waste-to-energy" incinerators seldom operate at full capacity.
§ The amount of garbage that the local communities would feed incinerators has been overestimated.
§ The cost of incineration 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 up for negative financial outcomes.
§ 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 include: "Ifil.10
§ Transfer stations in rural communities. Comm. -A%q
Ref. Yo:
Ref. Date SEP 1 7 2019
§ 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.
MK Motherwell
16-566 Keaau Pahoa Rd
Keaau HI 96749
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