HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-26 EMC testimony (10-25) Zero Waste Big IslandFrom:Zero Waste Big Island
To:Sur, Peter
Subject:EMC testimony-V.3.
Date:Tuesday, October 25, 2022 10:10:34 AM
Commissioners,
I am submitting testimony to update the Commission on developments to find county funding
to hire a grant writer and facilitator for a stakeholder engagement meeting to prepare the
county to apply for the EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program. I likely
won’t be able to attend the meeting on Wednesday, but I will listen to the recording.
Since the last EMC meeting, Councilmember Tim Richards is seeking county funding to
contract a grant writer and Councilmember Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder is willing to use
contingency relief funds to hire a stakeholder. If funding comes through, we would hope to
hold a stakeholder meeting after the county council meeting on November 15th and 16th. We
still do not know when the Request for Applications will come out for the EPA grant, but
hopefully it will accommodate this time line.
Regarding the specific project ideas proposed in “V.3: Draft Recommendations to DEM to
pursue for Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program (Adams)”, I have a few
comments regarding the first recommendation: Pilot creation of a Resource Recovery Park at
Kea’au Transfer Station over a 5-year period. We support this general idea (although Hilo
might be a more central location for the east side) but would recommend that two locations be
established to include the west side of the island. As part of this proposal, collection of
recyclables at all transfers stations needs to be included. A lack of services in rural areas of the
island was identified as a barrier to recycling and improving our collection systems to all areas
of the island is of paramount importance.