BUDGET HEARING REPRESENTATION CRUCIAL TO RECYCLING

The latest Maui County Recycling Industry meeting pointed out how desperately Maui needs a Material Recovery Facility (MRF, pronounced Murf.)  Representatives from Maui County addressed recycling issues January 17 with individuals from the local recycling processors, composting companies and haulers.

The agenda included plastics, cardboard, greenwaste, foodwaste, commercial construction and development waste.  As each issue was addressed, the group quickly reached the same conclusion; no progress would be made until there is a MRF to handle the materials.  No amount of bans or mandates would keep these materials out of the landfill until there is a facility to handle them.

Although the latest recycling task force study from October of 2002 recommended the construction of a County-run MRF above all other actions, little progress has been made due to budget constraints. 

If you are concerned about the 18 months worth of plastic degrading in the sun at the Maui Central Baseyard, and about all the other material you have been faithfully hauling to the county dropboxes, please come to the County budget hearings this spring.  Budget funding for a facility will not happen unless enough people show they care.  To find our more about the budget hearings, call Camille, Committee Secretary of the Budget and Finance Committee at 270-8007, email them at bf.committee@co.maui.hi.us or call Adelle at the Mayor’s office at 270-7855.

Camille Armantrout