HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	38
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING the solid waste division of the county of hawaii department of Environmental management to add additional days of operation and extend the hours of operation for recycling and transfer stations in puna.

WHEREAS, the accumulation of solid waste poses various risks to public health and safety and the environment by attracting insects and pests that may spread disease and by polluting water sources; and

WHEREAS, the proper management of solid waste, including the timely collection of solid waste, mitigates these risks; and

WHEREAS, in comparison to residents of other counties, the residents of the County of Hawaii are required to exert greater effort to properly dispose of their solid waste, since the County of Hawaii does not provide municipally funded curbside collection; and

WHEREAS, residents of the County of Hawaii must either deliver their own solid waste to a recycling and transfer station or contract with a private business for curbside pick-up of their solid waste and recyclables; and

WHEREAS, the hours and days of operation for the various recycling and transfer stations varies from each location; and

WHEREAS, the Puna area is serviced by five recycling and transfer stations; however, one operates only one day per week and two operate only three days per week; and

WHEREAS, if a Puna resident needed to dispose of their solid waste immediately but the closest recycling and transfer station was closed, the resident would be forced to transport their solid waste several miles to the next closest recycling and transfer station; and

WHEREAS, the hours of operation of the recycling and transfer stations, especially for recycling white goods or greenwaste, may be restrictive for residents who typically work during the day on weekdays; and

WHEREAS, this was further worsened in June 2022, when the damage from a fallen tree caused the temporary closure of one of the recycling and transfer stations; and

WHEREAS, residents of the County of Hawaii should have greater flexibility to dispose of their solid waste; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Solid Waste Division of the County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management is urged to add additional days of operation and extend the hours of operation for recycling and transfer stations in Puna; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Chair of the Hawaii County Council, Director of the County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management, and Acting Division Chief of the Solid Waste Division of the County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii County; Puna; Waste Collection; Transfer Stations; Days of Operation; Hours of Operation