5 MILLION POUNDS OF SCRAP REMOVED FROM HANA LANDFILL

A total of 474 truckloads made their way along the narrow, 52-mile roadway from Hana to Central Maui, removing about 2,500 tons of material that had piled up at the landfill over the past 12 years. Through a 12-month contract with the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management (DEM), SOS Metals Island Recycling, LLC coordinated the removal of the numerous derelict vehicles, appliances, batteries, miscellaneous scrap metal and nearly 4,000 tires for processing and shipment off-island. All of the material collected will be recycled.

Hana Landifll before cleanup. PHOTO: Courtesy SOS Metals Island Recycling, LLC

“The completion of this project is an exciting turning point for the Hana community,” said Environmental Management Director Cheryl Okuma.

“Before the contract was issued by our Solid Waste Division, the landfill was in violation of State Department of Health rules due to the accumulation of material. This cleanup addresses that violation. We have been moving forward on getting appropriate land use permits so we can complete our application for an official operating permit for the landfill and recycling center. Once that operating permit is issued, the recycling center can be opened at the landfill. We’re very pleased to be able to take the next step in the planning process toward recycling– this will help extend the life of the landfill by reducing the amount of material that actually ends up there.”

A request for proposals was issued by DEM last spring, with a notice to proceed issued June 16, 2008 to SOS Metals Island Recycling, LLC, which submitted a bid for nearly $1 million less than what was anticipated.

The project cost $618,746.98 and was completed three months early, with the last load removed on March 12, 2009.

Hana Landfill after cleanup and removal of debris. PHOTO: Courtesy SOS Metals Island Recycling, LLC

SOS owners Don and Sandy Shadrow stated that “we wanted to provide a much-needed metal recycling service placing the environment first over making a profit. We were impressed with the professional workmanship of all involved with this clean-up, which resulted in an environmentally sound project with zero accidents.”

Bruce Mizel, SOS Project Manager, estimates that by recycling material collected from the landfill, the project reduced greenhouse gas emissions by a total of 3.6 million pounds, which he said is the equivalent to the emissions created by the use of 175,800 gallons of gasoline.

“The environmental impact of this cleanup effort is significant not just for Maui, but for the environment in general,” Mizel said. “It was truly a joint effort, in that we worked with several local hauling companies and Community Work Day volunteers, as well as DEM staff and the hard-working Hana Landfill employees: Roxanna Smith, Chico Gonsalves and Kaiolohia Funes Smith.”

(Posted by Wendy OSHER, Information courtesy: County of Maui, Office of the Mayor, Placeholder images & PHOTOS: Courtesy SOS Metals Island Recycling, LLC)