HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-28 EMC testimony (09-27) Harden, Cory
testimony on agenda item VII 1 EPA Recycling Infrastructure Grant
for Environmental Management Commission
9 AM September 28, 2022, Puna Conference Room, Hawai‘i County Building, Hilo
Aloha Commissioners,
Please build on the tremendous efforts of the Zero Waste working group, and do all you can to ensure
the County succeeds in obtaining this grant.
Please recommend to County Council that they
• fund a grant writer to prepare an application, if County departments are unable to do it
• fund a facilitator to organize meetings with stakeholders so they are ready to coordinate their
efforts when the Request for Applications comes out this fall
Instead of underfunded programs that lead to garbage dumped in gulches, junk cars abandoned in
jungles, and overflowing landfills, we need a system that honors traditional cultural values, works for
residents with no cars and little spare time, and contributes to the local economy.
This is a do-not-miss opportunity to develop a model system that would not only benefit Hawai’i, but
also serve as a model for rural areas elsewhere.
Mahalo,
Cory Harden
333cory@gmail.com