Early in Mayor Kim’s administration (January, 2001) HIEDB’s Board of Directors met with him to inquire on his priority projects. His first priority was expressed as concern for waste management and recycling. Accordingly, an informal agreement was made to pursue public/private partnerships to encourage business, labor and community leaders to work with the environmental community and recycling industry to develop a plan.
HIEDB convened an ad hoc planning group - Andy Levin (Mayor’s office), Barbara Bell (then Recycle Hawaii), June Rabago (UPW), Galen Kuba (County Waste Mgmt), and all the recyclers/haulers were invited. Monthly meetings were held to develop a general strategy and feasibility plan, inventory of resources on-island and “next steps” project development. A request was made in March, 2001 to Senator Inouye’s office to consider inclusion of a pilot project for that fiscal year, and congressional language was formulated in May, 2001. HIEDB absorbed all time and meeting costs, estimate 10-20 hours of staff time/monthly.
HIEDB was informed in October, 2001, that $400,000 had been allocated to EPA Western Region IX for a pilot project reuse center, education and planning. Formal proposal outlines and budget were developed by the committee and submitted to EPA Region IX in January, 2002. Several site meetings were conducted, including travel for a committee member (Recycle Hawaii) to a mainland recycling conference (May 02), and a “Trash Tour” for 9 Committee members on Oahu (August 02). HIEDB continued to absorb staff costs, 20-30 hours/monthly and publicity/outreach discussions.
Prime contracting was completed in August, 2002. HIEDB supervised development of competitive bid documents and formed a Technical Review Committee. Two cycles were conducted due to a non-responsive initial bid. A single bid was received for the second cycle, and contracts were awarded to Recycle Hawaii for the recycling center demonstration and an education component in September, 2002. A third bid for a long range planning and outreach component was awarded to RCAC – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (sole bid).
Awards were made in September, 2002, with a tentative opening of March, 2003. An HIEDB staff member is assigned for project management as well as senior executive oversight, and the technical advisory committee continues to provide technical assistance as needed. (Jiro Sumada, Hugh Ono, Bob Saunders, Bob Cooper, Donald Okahara, Hugh Willocks, Donald Yamada). Support staff, particularly fiscal management, is involved for contracting, budget review, reporting and setup; approximately 100 hrs/monthly total.
With all contracting elements in place, the project components moved forward immediately to subcontractors for implementation. The project operator, Recycle Hawaii, has done an outstanding job in implementing the project in less than six months, with a Grand Opening held on March 29, 2003 attended by more than 300 community members, elected officials, artists and interested recyclers, receiving good media coverage and more planned. The Kea’au Recycling and Reuse Center was officially opened.
During this operational start-up phase, a second year project was tentatively approved in November 2002, with a proposal recommendation for a West side component to be forwarded to EPA in May, 2003. A third year of funding has been submitted in May, 2003 for two more transfer station conversions. The Community Oversight Committee was reconvened to discuss this proposal as well as the Long-Range planning and outreach component, and product development and marketing.
SECOND YEAR PROJECT
The Kona Recycles @ Kealakehe project was designed to test a two stream sort method of collection to get the diversion rates to a higher level as well as get more participation in hopes to upgrade other transfer stations, when we know that model works.
The County’s plan is to develop a regional sort station and implement aggressive recycling measures as a short-term solution, while researching more complex technologies for disposal.
Waikoloa does not have a Transfer Station and the County is currently contracting to a consultant to conduct a feasibility study to look at curb side rubbish and recycling pick up trial project. This study will look at their waste habits and the County will be gathering this information in the next few months.
County has 20 permitted Transfer Stations and these systems were built in the 1970’s. Most are very dilapidated and in need of repairs. Solid Waste Management plans are in place to alter/ change the rules and update the system. Public Hearing will be forth coming to assess these changes.
Most island residents may feel there is not much they can do at this point about the imminent closure of the Hilo landfill next year and the subsequent hauling of tons of refuse daily to the West Hawaii landfill at Pu’uanahulu. Yet imagine the results if there were a change of consciousness among each citizen to commit to recycling. Multiply that change by tens of thousands. The result, as squarely shown by the hundreds of tons of rubbish already recycled at the Kealakehe Transfer Station, clearly indicates that recycling can work.
For the coming year, HIEDB has set its sights on three arenas: helping businesses from small company offices to larger employers reduce paper use, expand food waste composting in restaurants and hotels, and develop ways to recover more waste wood and other materials from the construction and remodeling boom on Hawaii Island.
It is anticipated that the fourth and final year of pilot-project funding will dovetail with the closure of the East Hawaii landfill, an island-wide source separation ordinance, marketing initiatives to ensure sustainable/profitable product streams and reuse, completion of the 20-acre recycling center in Hilo, and resolution of waste stream issues for West Hawaii. This pilot project, if successful, will demonstrate the capability of rural communities for self-help and a sustainable, profitable recycling initiative.
HIEDB congratulates all of the parties involved for their efforts to make this pilot demonstration project in high density Kona a success. This project proves that instead of having 7 containers in your house, one can use the 2 steam sort at home for ease and greater participation in recycling. The model can now be duplicated at rural transfer station around the island that has very limited use of space so that the entire island can begin to recycle with the two stream method. The true measurement of the success of this project will be seen in the coming years once the other transfer stations are fitted with our pilot projects recycling convenience.
Recycling Resources
Press Releases
- Kona Recycling Final - 2/24/2006
- EPA Press Release
- Kona Recycling Exceeds Goal - 1/11/2006
- EPA Waste Wise Program - 7/31/06
*The Current Press Released are in Adobe Acrobat format and you may need to download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the press releases.
Additional Resources
More Focal Points at HIEDB