Hawaii County Seeks Waste Reduction, Recycling Solutions

Hawaii Island’s county officials announced it’s time for a “major paradigm shift” for the island’s waste reduction and recycling efforts.

One Kohala councilman has sponsored a resolution urging directors of the Department of Environmental Management and Research and Development to develop a plan for waste reduction technology for renewable and alternative energy generation, according to the Hawaii Tribune Herald.

The government had considered, but ultimately dropped, plans for a waste-to-energy facility due to projected costs and public outcry. The county is considering alternative options as more than 250,000 tons of materials per year ends up in the county’s only landfill.

Hawaii Tribune Herald has more:

With Hawaii Island’s zero waste and renewable energy programs only trudging along, it’s time for a major paradigm shift, say county officials.

But they emphasize that doesn’t automatically mean a waste-to-energy garbage incinerator, nor does it necessarily mean biomass burners or composting facilities. Instead, as far as Kohala Councilman Tim Richards is concerned, the sky is the limit.

Read the full story here.