HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-19 Letter from COH-DEM requesting assistance from DOH-OSWMMitchell D. Roth
Mayor
Lee Lord
Managing Director
County of Hawaii
RamA I. Mansour
Director
Brenda Iokepa-Moses
Deputy Director
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
345 Kekuanao`a Street, Suite 41 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 s cohdem@hawaiicounty.gov
Ph: (808) 961-8083 • Fax: (808) 961-8086
May 19, 2023
Michael Burke, Coordinator
Office of Solid Waste Management
c/o Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch
Hawaii Department of Health
2827 Waimano Home Road #100
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782
Via Certified Mail: 7018 3090 0000 4998 1133
Mr. Burke,
The County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management (COHDEM) is advised by
the Environmental Management Commission (EMC), whose members support expanding the use
of Advanced Disposal Fees (ADF) charged to consumers to address costs related to disposal at
the point of sale (POS), and fund public awareness campaigns. Such fees are already assessed on
the sale of beverage containers and vehicle tires.
EMC finds that the authority to "assess the feasibility of employing disposal fees, including fees
at Co point of introduction or sale of any product that would require eventual disposition as solid
waste, as possible funding sources for waste management activities" is reserved to the Office of
Solid Waste Management, under Section 342G44(6), Hawaii Revised Statutes. EMC requests
me to confer with your Office on the following matters. I concur and request you to address:
1) Has OSWM recently assessed the feasibility of expanding the categories of products
currently covered by ADF and/or POS fees for the purposes of:
a. Offsetting costs of waste management; and
b. Educating the public on the impact of disposing of the products they purchase?
If so, can Hawaii County get a copy of the assessment and/or report to share with EMC?
2) If, on the other hand, OSWM has not recently conducted such a study, COHDEM urges
the Office to do so, and report back on the assessment.
Potential products for fees include electronics, paper and plastic goods, paint, carpets, and other
goods that could be recycled if we had sufficient funds to support reuse/recycling programs.
Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
EMU stresses its interest in fees that could be charged to the consumer up front, rather than
solely to the manufacturer or distributor.
Additionally, if you would provide a timely reply to this letter, we can provide an update to EMC
on the status of this request at its meeting on June 23, 2023. On behalf of COHDEM and EMC, I
thank you for your consideration of this request.
S
Ramzi Mansour, Director
County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management
CC: (via email)
Glenn Haae, Acting Chief, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, Department of Health
Georjean Adams, Chair, Environmental Management Commission, County of Hawaii
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