Prevedouros: Trash Solution is Simple – Send it Back to Mainland in Empty Shipping Containers
The grade on this Fact Check has been changed from True to Half True. It’s true that waste can be shipped in containers. It’s not true that it would be a simple proposition. See my comment below.
Mayoral candidate Panos Prevedouros told a debate: “Trash is one of the most solvable problems. Number one, we burn it now that we have the third boiler, so a lot of it will be burnt and that leaves 20 percent ash. And number two, we need to ship it out. Nine out of 10 containers that come to Hawaii go back empty. It doesn’t take a genius.”
Since Civil Beat doesn’t claim to have any geniuses on staff, we’ll look at Prevedouros’ statement from a more basic perspective:
Is it realistic to think that shipping companies could manage Honolulu’s trash in the same shipping containers that bring goods like beds, food or clothes to the island?
To find out, we first felt it important to provide some background information that is critical to Prevedouros’ trash solution.
Basically, even if everything the mayoral candidate said was accurate (and we’ll get to that in a minute), where would these containers go?
Because as of July 29, it appears that Oahu’s waste options have been severely limited – at least for the time being.
According to , a Washington judge, Edward Shea, issued a temporary restraining order a day before the Seattle-based was to begin shipping Oahu trash to the mainland. The shipping would have gone into effect July 30, with Oahu waste traveling in eight layers of sealed polyethylene sheeting by boat and then via truck or rail to the in Klickitat County, Wash.
Hawaiian Waste Systems had planned to begin shipping the trash more than 10 months ago but due to setbacks, including acquiring federal clearance, the company had to store the waste it expected to be shipping and piled it at its Campbell Industrial Park baling facility in Kapolei. An estimated 20,000 tons of garbage is waiting at the facility.
The reason for Judge Shea’s restraining order – which will be in effect until at least Aug. 30 – was a lawsuit brought by the Yakama Tribe of Washington and environmental groups. The tribe cited not being properly consulted on the shipments, and also stated that there was a possibility of invasive species escaping Honolulu trash and posing a threat to native crops.
The decision was a blow as Oahu tries to deal with its trash problem. Currently on the island, the only facility that accepts municipal waste is the . The Hawaii Waste contract would have diverted up to 100,000 tons of trash from the gulch and to the mainland every year.
So, with this in mind, we’ll continue on to Prevedouros’ comment.
If the shipping situation were to work itself out, is it possible that the very same containers that carry goods to Oahu would return to the mainland filled with our garbage?
The answer: Yes, it is possible.
Civil Beat asked Hawaii’s largest shipping business, , if Prevedouros’ idea of shipping trash in empty containers could, theoretically, take shape. Meaning, could the types of containers Matson uses be capable of handling the types of materials commonly found in garbage.
Matson representative, Jeff Hull, said: “It’s my understanding, yes. But the company — whoever was the shipper — would have to make arrangements where the trash would be disposed and so on.”
When asked about the sanitation of using the same shipping containers for trash that they use for other goods, Hull said:
“Well, the containers would be cleaned.”
Fair enough.
As to whether or not this would actually be something that a company like Matson would consider doing, Hull was only able to say that they have “talked about it” in terms of being a situation that might arise in the future. But, for now, it does not appear to be on the company’s radar.
It does say on Matson’s website, under “frequently asked questions”, that “dangerous or hazardous cargo may not be included in your container.” Certainly there would be elements in trash that fall into the category of “hazardous,” but it is also likely that different rules would be applied were Matson, or a similar company, to acquire a contract with the city to ship trash.
So, ultimately, it turns out that Prevedouros’ idea could theoretically work. There would no doubt be a number of hoops for him to jump through were he to be elected mayor — not the least of which would be finding an actual location that would take the trash.
Maybe it doesn’t take a genius to figure this out after all.
