Mayor Harry Kim says he is looking to scrap plans for a $10.3 million composting facility, citing concerns about its cost.
Mayor Harry Kim says he is looking to scrap plans for a $10.3 million composting facility, citing concerns about its cost.
Kim said he supports the intent of the project, which would divert organic waste from Hawaii County’s landfills, but that he saw the contract signed last year as being too expensive and not comprehensive enough.
“I’m seriously considering terminating the contract,” he said. “I’m working with them,” Kim added, referring to the contractor, “to see how this can be done.”
He said he was concerned that it relied too much on diverting waste from businesses and wouldn’t increase sorting at transfer stations.
If the 10-year contract, which went into effect last July, is terminated, Kim said he would plan to issue a new request for proposals that would cover organic waste diversion. “I think I’m one of the biggest fans of composting,” he said.
Kim said he intends to work with the company, Hawaiian Earth Recycling, to end the agreement while avoiding penalties. Kim said he notified the company Friday and they discussed an “amicable” termination.
The contract has provisions for canceling if certain steps aren’t met, including the completion of an environmental assessment. One clause says the county would have to reimburse the contractor for development costs.
HER was the only company that responded to the previous composting RFP.
The contract also includes ongoing mulching operations, and Kim said he wants to avoid any disruptions in service.
“This cannot be canceled until we make sure we keep our ducks in order,” he said. “That’s not going to be done overnight.”
The Keaukaha Panaewa Farmers Association objected to construction of the compost facility next to the Hilo landfill, which is near their lots, due to concerns about health, noise and odor impacts.
Kim said his issue wasn’t the location, but that he would involve nearby residents in discussions if another project is pursued.
Maile Lu‘uwai, president of the farmers group, said in an email that Kim’s decision came as a “great relief.”
She said a recent trip to similar facilities in Washington state solidified “our position that the facility should not be located in Panaewa.”
The association had complained that they weren’t properly consulted.
Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy said she hopes Panaewa residents will be part of the conversation if another RFP is issued.
“They should have been at the table from the beginning,” she said. “We all will get a fresh set of eyes on it.”
The Hilo landfill could be full in one-three years. County officials are working with a consultant to draft a closure plan.
The composting facility would be designed to process food waste, food soiled paper and green waste, according to the project’s draft EA. If built, trucks would take rubbish from East Hawaii to the West Hawaii landfill and return with organic waste for composting following closure of the Hilo landfill, county officials had said.
Meanwhile, a waste-to-energy plant proposed in Waikoloa recently received a finding of no significant impact from the county Planning Department.
BioEnergy Hawaii LLC plans to build a waste separation and anaerobic digestion facility that will produce methane and other gases. Byproducts would include soil amendments and fertilizer.
Lu‘uwai said the county should look to that as an alternative.
“The West Hawaii facility is not located next to a community,” she said.
Kim said he did not blame the contractor for issues in the agreement.
“This is no reflection on the company and the work they have done with us,” he said.
Under the contract, the county pays $85.08 or $99.58 per ton for mulch and compost, depending on whether it’s produced at the West Hawaii or East Hawaii solid waste facilities. That’s up from the previous mulching contract, which had prices of $41.95 and $44.85 per ton.
As part of the deal, mulch and compost would be naturally heated to kill invasive species.
The contract also includes a minimum annual payment of $2.8 million, which would increase to $4 million once the facility is built.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.