03-24-2009, 04:25 AM
At the April 8 County Council meeting in Hilo, Resolution 66-09 will be on the agenda.
The proposal is for "processing the State’s combined solid waste flow...on the island of Hawai’i ..."
There is no indication of any awareness or need to be concerned that at least half of the combined solid waste flow in the state is not organic material suitable for composting or any other biological process.
The justification for this major policy proposal is based on highly speculative and unsubstantiated assertions about “significant efficiencies” and “significant returns”.
Furthermore, without explanation as to what is meant, there is said to be “economics of magnitude” (I have a PhD in Economics, have taught and researched economics and formulated economic policy. I have never heard of “economics of magnitude” and nowhere in any economics reference can I find anything about “economics of magnitude”.)
Such a major policy proposal with serious potential consequence requires evidence of substance and can not be left to speculation.
What is proposed is action based on speculation rather than grounded evidence.
In this citizen’s opinion, that is a very risky way to make policy and to govern.
++++
Here is the text of the Resolution:
WHEREAS, handling and processing of solid waste remains an ongoing and unresolved issue for the State of Hawaii and as such, there may be significant efficiencies in addressing these solid waste issues based upon individual needs of each county through a combined single solid waste proposal approach; and
WHEREAS, economics of magnitude are generally accomplished when the primary focus and opportunities are comprised of large-scale, multi-encompasing proposals; and
WHEREAS, the potential of a unique opportunity exists of processing the State’s combined solid waste flow into organic composted media for agricultural enhancement, and this oppbrtunity occurs best on the island of Hawai’i whereby an all-encompassing solid waste solution of this scope and specificity could result in significant returns on investments and promote economic and agricultural sustainability; and
WHEREAS, development of bio fuel crops on non-productive lands on Hawai’i Island and/or other counties would promote initiation and development of new agro-energ presence in the County and State of Hawai’i, and contribute to resolving the state-wide solid waste issue and ongoing threats of contaminated leachate now looming over our coastal environment; and
WHEREAS, collaboration among counties in developing joint proposals to address solid waste issues under a single solid waste proposal, if successful, would require changes to respective County Codes in order to implement integrated programs such as collection and shipment of material to one or more processing locations, processing through enhanced composting procedures for use as foundation soil and agricultural enhancement; and
WHEREAS, a state-wide single solid waste proposal, developed jointly by the counties would promote economic and agricultural sustainability, maximize capital equipment and infrastructure funding; and
WHEREAS, a program of this magnitude, processing the State’s combined solid waste flow into organic composted media for agricultural enhancement, dramatically facilitates federal funding opportunities through federal programs such as the new Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill, as well as through other federal agency monies that would likewise be available, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAJ’I that the
counties of Hawai’i, Maui, Kaua’i, and the City and County of Honolulu, are encouraged to collaborate to develop a joint process to address the entire State’s solid waste issues through integrated programs that promote economic and agricultural sustainability for the State of Hawai’i; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward certified copies of this resolution to William P. Kenoi, Mayor, County of Hawai’i; Lono Tyson, Director, County of Hawai’i, Department of Environmental Management, County of Hawai’i; Warren Lee, Director, County of Hawai’i Department of Public Works; the Honorable Governor Linda Lingle; Chiyome Leinaala Fukino, M.D., Director, Department of Health; Laurence K. Lau, Deputy Director, Environmental Health Administration; Thomas E. Arizumi, Chief, Department of Health Environmental Management Division; Mufi Hannemann, Mayor, City and County of Honolulu; Representative Cindy Evans; Todd Kala Apo, Chair, Honolulu City Council; Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr., Mayor, County of Kaua’i; Bill “Kaipo” Asing, Chair, Kaua’i County Council; Charmaine Tavares, Mayor, County of Maui; and Danny A. Mateo, Chair, Maui County Council.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
The proposal is for "processing the State’s combined solid waste flow...on the island of Hawai’i ..."
There is no indication of any awareness or need to be concerned that at least half of the combined solid waste flow in the state is not organic material suitable for composting or any other biological process.
The justification for this major policy proposal is based on highly speculative and unsubstantiated assertions about “significant efficiencies” and “significant returns”.
Furthermore, without explanation as to what is meant, there is said to be “economics of magnitude” (I have a PhD in Economics, have taught and researched economics and formulated economic policy. I have never heard of “economics of magnitude” and nowhere in any economics reference can I find anything about “economics of magnitude”.)
Such a major policy proposal with serious potential consequence requires evidence of substance and can not be left to speculation.
What is proposed is action based on speculation rather than grounded evidence.
In this citizen’s opinion, that is a very risky way to make policy and to govern.
++++
Here is the text of the Resolution:
WHEREAS, handling and processing of solid waste remains an ongoing and unresolved issue for the State of Hawaii and as such, there may be significant efficiencies in addressing these solid waste issues based upon individual needs of each county through a combined single solid waste proposal approach; and
WHEREAS, economics of magnitude are generally accomplished when the primary focus and opportunities are comprised of large-scale, multi-encompasing proposals; and
WHEREAS, the potential of a unique opportunity exists of processing the State’s combined solid waste flow into organic composted media for agricultural enhancement, and this oppbrtunity occurs best on the island of Hawai’i whereby an all-encompassing solid waste solution of this scope and specificity could result in significant returns on investments and promote economic and agricultural sustainability; and
WHEREAS, development of bio fuel crops on non-productive lands on Hawai’i Island and/or other counties would promote initiation and development of new agro-energ presence in the County and State of Hawai’i, and contribute to resolving the state-wide solid waste issue and ongoing threats of contaminated leachate now looming over our coastal environment; and
WHEREAS, collaboration among counties in developing joint proposals to address solid waste issues under a single solid waste proposal, if successful, would require changes to respective County Codes in order to implement integrated programs such as collection and shipment of material to one or more processing locations, processing through enhanced composting procedures for use as foundation soil and agricultural enhancement; and
WHEREAS, a state-wide single solid waste proposal, developed jointly by the counties would promote economic and agricultural sustainability, maximize capital equipment and infrastructure funding; and
WHEREAS, a program of this magnitude, processing the State’s combined solid waste flow into organic composted media for agricultural enhancement, dramatically facilitates federal funding opportunities through federal programs such as the new Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill, as well as through other federal agency monies that would likewise be available, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAJ’I that the
counties of Hawai’i, Maui, Kaua’i, and the City and County of Honolulu, are encouraged to collaborate to develop a joint process to address the entire State’s solid waste issues through integrated programs that promote economic and agricultural sustainability for the State of Hawai’i; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward certified copies of this resolution to William P. Kenoi, Mayor, County of Hawai’i; Lono Tyson, Director, County of Hawai’i, Department of Environmental Management, County of Hawai’i; Warren Lee, Director, County of Hawai’i Department of Public Works; the Honorable Governor Linda Lingle; Chiyome Leinaala Fukino, M.D., Director, Department of Health; Laurence K. Lau, Deputy Director, Environmental Health Administration; Thomas E. Arizumi, Chief, Department of Health Environmental Management Division; Mufi Hannemann, Mayor, City and County of Honolulu; Representative Cindy Evans; Todd Kala Apo, Chair, Honolulu City Council; Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr., Mayor, County of Kaua’i; Bill “Kaipo” Asing, Chair, Kaua’i County Council; Charmaine Tavares, Mayor, County of Maui; and Danny A. Mateo, Chair, Maui County Council.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
]