Hawaii Senate Bill SCR77

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24

Caption

Urging The Department Of Health To Ensure The Safe Management Of Ash From Waste Incineration Facilities.

Impact

The resolution highlights that while other nations regulate incinerator ash as hazardous waste, the EPA currently allows it to be categorized as non-hazardous in the U.S. This discrepancy raises serious concerns about the safety protocols in place for handling and transporting incinerator ash. By urging the Department of Health to enforce existing laws more strictly, SCR77 seeks to mitigate the hazards associated with incinerator ash management, protecting workers and the surrounding community from potential harm.

Summary

SCR77 urges the Department of Health in Hawaii to ensure the safe management of ash produced from waste incineration facilities, specifically focusing on the H-Power incinerator in Campbell Industrial Park, Oahu. This facility processes a significant amount of waste, resulting in a large quantity of ash that is currently stored in the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill. The resolution emphasizes the concerns surrounding the hazardous nature of the ash, citing that dangerous metals can leach from it, posing risks to both environmental and public health.

Contention

One notable point of contention within the resolution is the development of an ash recycling facility that the City and County of Honolulu is working on with Covanta. Critics argue that this initiative could violate state laws regarding public health and safety by increasing the community's exposure to hazardous materials. The resolution calls for a halt to such recycling efforts, emphasizing that the safe management of ash should prioritize containment and proper landfill practices rather than reusing toxic materials in construction.