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H-POWER to Cut Use of Waimanalo Gulch Landfill

City officials announced the opening of a new sludge receiving station today at the City’s H-Power waste-to-energy plant in Campbell Industrial Park.  The new machine will take sludge and waste products and convert them into fuel.

 

According to the Department of Environmental Services, the Honolulu Program of Waste Energy Recovery (H-POWER) processes over 600,000 tons of waste annually, and has the capacity to produce up to 10% of Oahu’s electricity.  H-POWER began operation in 1990 and today, coverts nearly 2,000 tons of waste per day, creating enough electricity to power 60,000 homes.

 

The City’s new sludge receiving station will reduce 40,000 pounds of waste that enters the land fills per year, putting less dependence on the Waimanalo Gulch land fill.  The addition of the receiving station ensures that less material is going into the landfill and sets the city on a course to eliminating the need for a landfill in my district.

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Pine Urges City to Curb Illegal Dumping in Waianae

City Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine today sent a letter to the Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting – George I. Atta – requesting the Department deny future permit applications to dump sludge from the Hawaii Kai Marina on the Leeward Coast, and investigate reports of landowners or tenants using agriculture-zoned land for industrial work and/or waste disposal.

 

“It’s simply unacceptable for commercial enterprises and individuals to continue to use the Leeward Coast as their dumping ground. There is absolutely no justification for these violations, which is why I will be introducing measures to strengthen the penalties for these egregious acts,” Councilmember Pine said.

 

Councilmember Pine is working closely with the community to come up with solutions to stop illegal dumping along the Waianae Coast. One solution is to charge higher fees for grading and dumping violations. “Improper waste dumping and grading must stop immediately, and those responsible must be held accountable. My proposals will provide the Department of Planning and Permitting with the tools to pressure commercial enterprises and individuals to end these practices,” Councilmember Pine continued.

 

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Hawaii Kai Sludge Illegally Dumped in Waianae

Responding to community concerns that tons of sludge is being dredged from the Hawaii Kai Marina and dumped in Waianae, Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine is demanding that the Hawaii Kai Community Association remove all of the debris and return it to holding areas in Hawaii Kai.

 

The City has cited SER Trucking, which was hired to truck and store the materials, for not having a proper grading permit. However, Councilmember Pine does not believe this is enough to stop the potentially illegal dumping.

 

“I will make sure that I do everything in my power, including exploring all legislative options to stop this private marina from dumping its sludge in our community and ensure that this unchecked dumping never happens again,” Councilmember Pine said.

 

Waianae residents are upset that the sludge is being dumped in their community and expressed their concerns. Responding to the community, Robert Clark, president of the Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association referred to Waianae residents’ concerns as “total ignorance,” saying, “if they were aware of what that material was, they would say please let me have more of it,”  (Hawaii News Now).

 

Councilmember Pine also responded to Mr. Robert Clark’s statements today, saying “I take great offense to Mr. Clark’s statement and demand that he apologize to the people of Waianae for his comments. The people of Waianae are smart innovative citizens who care deeply about their ‘aina.”

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