ESTABLISHING A POLICY OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF DIVERTING ALL MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE AWAY FROM LANDFILLS.

    WHEREAS, municipal solid waste consists of everyday items such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint and batteries; and
    
    WHEREAS, across the country, many communities, including the City and County of Honolulu, as well as businesses and individuals, have found creative ways to reduce, better manage, or otherwise divert wastes through a coordinated mix of practices that includes source reduction, recycling (including composting), and disposal; and

    WHEREAS, despite waste reduction, management and diversion efforts, the available capacity of existing municipal landfills is rapidly diminishing, and communities, such as the City and County of Honolulu, are faced with the task of identifying and developing new municipal landfill sites; and

    WHEREAS, the process of siting new municipal landfill sites, or possibly expanding existing sites, is constrained by limited available siting space, the overall density of urban and residential development on Oahu, and the island's sensitive and vulnerable ecosystem; and

    WHEREAS, these landfill siting and expansion constraints signal the urgency for establishing and implementing City policy to divert municipal solid waste from landfill disposition, through increased emphasis on better utilizing current waste reduction, management and diversion practices, as well as through actively identifying and studying the feasibility of implementing new and emerging waste disposal technologies; now, therefore,

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of the Department of Environmental Services is directed to implement this City policy, and to submit a report to the Council of the timetable and plan for implementation of the policy no later than 60 days following the adoption of this Resolution; and

                         INTRODUCED BY:

                         John DeSoto

                        
DATE OF INTRODUCTION:
                        
September 26, 2001
        
Honolulu, Hawaii                     Councilmembers

Policy Resolutions