HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-26 EMC testimony (10-25) Zavalney, KatrinaFrom:Katrina Zavalney
To:Sur, Peter
Cc:Zero Waste Big Island; Ellen Okuma
Subject:Testimony for agenda item: V.3. Discussion on preparations to apply for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program. Advice to DEM on priorities for grant proposals
Date:Tuesday, October 25, 2022 10:44:59 AM
Aloha EMC,
Here is my testimony for agenda item: V.3. Discussion on preparations to apply for
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling
Grant Program. Advice to DEM on priorities for grant proposals
This island needs greater infrastructure to handle the waste and processing
resources in a sustainable way. Zero Waste Big Island and other stakeholders on this
island have identified a way to ratify this, with a funding source: the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant
Program. There has been the option and opportunity to have a grant writer contracted
to write this grant that can go through the county to support this infrastructure, which
is a win/win situation. We need all the support from the county to make this happen,
otherwise we will lose out on this valuable opportunity.
Specifically:
1. Pilot creation of a Resource Recovery Park at Kea’au Transfer Station over a 5-
year period. Begin by improving the Reuse Center. Acquire additional land to set up
drop off stations for various materials beyond existing ones – cardboard and paper
and food for composting, construction materials, textiles, segregated plastics, etc.
Dedicate land for shredding, composting and distribution of compost. Set up a “fix it”
station, including a tools library and educational opportunities on repair. Set up
warehousing and processing space for reuse/recycling entrepreneurs. Alternate
location: Hilo.
2. Enable transfer station recycling by small businesses (ISWMP top priority). In
addition to code changes, a small fee/licensing program must be devised. Additional
capabilities to be provided include: additional pick up of containers and/or containers
and vehicles and labor needed to monitor and transport recyclables.
3. Equipment to aid distributed composting: home compost bins, shredders, larger
invessel composters. Coordinate with private parties for collection and distribution of
equipment and pre- and post-compost materials. County may need to help with
setting up locations for large composters and shredders.
4. Explore grant partnerships with Waste Management and Hawaii Earth Resources
to expand/enable their capabilities to do recycling.
Please support this in any way you can. The County Council has given their support
and we need you to as well. Please help facilitate this moving forward efficiently.
Thank you!
Kind regards,
Katrina Zavalney
Executive Director, Founder
Aranya Solutions
P: 503-459-1345
E: Katrina @AranyaSolutions.com
W: www.AranyaSolutions.com
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