Kekaha, Kauai What a Waste!

We live in a finite environment … Can we continue to WASTE it?

What a Waste! Every day 225 tons of waste is dumped in our landfill. By 2017, the landfill will be full and we’ll need another one. Is this really the best way to deal with waste on an island?

What an opportunity!

What is “Zero Waste”? “Waste = Resource” “The Path to Sustainable Living.”

Zero Waste Management is a truly “integrated” Waste Management System in which each material is treated as a resource

How Does Zero Waste Work? REDUCE: Don’t create waste in the first place REDUCE: Don’t create waste in the first place REUSE: Find another home for things we no longer want or need REUSE: Find another home for things we no longer want or need RECYCLE: Turn discards into new products RECYCLE: Turn discards into new products

From Waste to Commodity Recycled paper Recycled paper Soil Conditioner from sewage sludge Soil Conditioner from sewage sludge Dinner ware from Dinner ware from recycled glass recycled glass Plastic lumber from recycled plastic Plastic lumber from recycled plastic

Creating a Zero Waste Economy We need a whole new system that: Facilitates & rewards recycling & reuse Facilitates & rewards recycling & reuse Discourages waste Discourages waste

We Need New Laws Ban the use of harmful or hard-to-recycle items Ban the use of harmful or hard-to-recycle items Expand business recycling mandates Expand business recycling mandates Implement residential user fees to pay for rubbish pick- up and support recycling Implement residential user fees to pay for rubbish pick- up and support recycling

A New Collection System A 3-Can System: A 3-Can System: Dry Recyclables Dry Recyclables Compostables Compostables Non-recyclables or Trash Non-recyclables or Trash

A New Infrastructure Materials Recovery Facility - MRF Composting Facility

A New Infrastructure Center for Hard to Recycle Materials - CHARM Construction / Demolition Recovery

The Benefits of Zero Waste! Reduce the rising cost of solid waste management Reduce the rising cost of solid waste management Create more jobs Create more jobs Create local products Create local products Preserve a cleaner more beautiful environment Preserve a cleaner more beautiful environment

Why Not Just Burn our Garbage? Consider the Big Picture

Zero Waste vs Waste to Energy We can create an environmentally sustainable waste management system that will be far less costly than disposal or incineration. We can create an environmentally sustainable waste management system that will be far less costly than disposal or incineration. Waste to Energy Zero Waste Option

Waste to Energy Too expensive, Too Wasteful Cost: Upwards of $125 million Cost: Upwards of $125 million Put or Pay: If we don’t produce enough garbage to meet the facility’s demands, we must pay anyway Put or Pay: If we don’t produce enough garbage to meet the facility’s demands, we must pay anyway The “No Landfill” myth: It is not true that WTE will eliminate the need for a landfill. The “No Landfill” myth: It is not true that WTE will eliminate the need for a landfill. Siting/NIMBY: No one wants a WTE in his/her neighborhood Siting/NIMBY: No one wants a WTE in his/her neighborhood Lack of Successful Projects: No new facilities built in the US in over a decade Lack of Successful Projects: No new facilities built in the US in over a decade Few Jobs: WTE provides a fraction of the jobs that Zero Waste will generate Few Jobs: WTE provides a fraction of the jobs that Zero Waste will generate

The Bottom Line WTE is not economically feasible WTE is not economically feasible Kauai can’t afford to burn resources that could create jobs Kauai can’t afford to burn resources that could create jobs

What Can I Do? Get involved and take a stand. Write the Mayor & the Council Request urgent implementation of Zero Waste on Kauai

Use the Existing System to its Maximum !!

Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport The future is ours, but only if we actively participate in shaping it.

For more information, and to find out how you can help, contact zerowastekauai.org Remember … Reduce … Reuse … Recycle !!!