FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              November 16, 2007

CITY SUBMITS SOLID WASTE PLAN UPDATE

FOR REVIEW

            The Hannemann administration has submitted its draft update of the City’s Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) for review.

            The submittal is the first step in what is expected to be a year-long review of the plan.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said, “I’m very grateful to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee members for their commitment to this endeavor.  This distinguished panel included representatives from solid waste management facility operators, solid waste haulers, recycling industries, military and government agencies, private business interests, the State Department of Health, and students, and their rigorous debate and candid discussions were critical to the development of this draft.  This is the first step toward the adoption of this long-awaited plan, and I’m pleased that we could count on these citizens for answering this call.”

            The City’s consultant, R.W. Beck, began work on the plan in June 2006.  In April 2007, Mayor Mufi Hannemann established the Solid Waste Advisory Committee to review solid waste data, learn about past and current practices, and explore future directions for incorporation into the updated plan.

            The committee now has 120 days to review the draft plan.  Once their recommendations are evaluated and incorporated by the administration, the plan will be submitted to the State Department of Health.  That agency will have 90 days for review and comment.  Once the Health Department completes its review, there will be a public comment period, during which the City Department of Environmental Services will schedule a hearing to solicit comments from the general public and City Council members.  The SWAC will then revise and approve the solid waste plan based on the comments it receives.  Next, the plan will be submitted to the City Council for adoption.  Once adopted, it will be submitted to the Department of Health for final review and approval.

            Copies of the draft update were also provided to the members of the City Council.  Councilmember Gary Okino, chairman of the Planning and Sustainability Committee, is a member of SWAC and can provide Council comments to committee members for consideration.

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Contact:

Bill Brennan, 527-6928