WAILUKU, MAUI- After 10 months of concerted effort by the Solid Waste Resource Advisory Committee (SWRAC), the draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan has been completed, County of Maui Department of Environmental Management (DEM) officials announced.

The draft plan, which will play an important role in determining how the county will manage solid waste now and in the future, will go to public hearings this summer in Central and West Maui, in Hana, and on Molokai and Lanai. Public comment from the hearings will be reviewed by the DEM and the SWRAC; the draft plan will then be revised, if necessary, before being submitted to the state Department of Health for formal review. The draft plan is available for review online at www.mauicounty.gov

The 16-member SWRAC, appointed by Mayor Charmaine Tavares, was comprised of a broad spectrum of concerned citizens, industry leaders and members of the County Council.

"Members of the Solid Waste Resource Advisory Committee have been an essential part of developing the draft plan," said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. "We have been fortunate to have them work together to craft new plans for Maui County. Each member participated in an involved and demanding process and demonstrated great commitment. I'm pleased with the results and am grateful to the Committee members for their thorough work."

The committee included industry and community members Greg Apa, Mauricio Avila, Eve Clute, Stuart Funke 'd Egnuff, Darlene Endrina (Lanai), Jack Freitas, Rob Hoonan, Debra Kelly (Molokai), Steve Perkins, Suzie Thieman, Terryl Vencl, Rick Woodford, Mayor's Office representatives Kuhea Paracuelles and Victor Reyes and Council Members Bill Medeiros and Michael Victorino.

State law requires each county to review their Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan every five years. In accordance with that requirement, Maui County's DEM, Solid Waste Division, worked with the consulting firm Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB) and the SWRAC to develop a revised plan. GBB conducted field research and presented its findings to Division staff and SWRAC. Solid Waste staff also supported the SWRAC's activities by providing a research tour of solid waste facilities in Oregon and California, and coordinating more than 20 presentations over a nine-month period by consultants and staff on various aspects of industry best practices and current county operations. Topics included: landfill capacity, garbage and recycling collection, organics to energy, "zero waste," "Pay-As-You-Throw," household hazardous waste, yard waste, waste-to-energy and alternatives to disposal.

For more information on the draft plan or the SWRAC, call the Department of Environmental Management at 270-8230 or visit www.mauicounty.gov/departments/EnvironmentalMgt/swplan.htm