The goal of the Waste Management Benchmark is to establish and implement a waste management plan. The Waste Management Benchmark will fulfill this mission by creating a Waste Management Plan, increase recycling on Molokai, decrease amount of solid waste into the landfill, explore economic usage for waste material (i.e junkyard), and improve wastewater treatment system.

Reason for Need

Molokai's new landfill is rapidly filling up with solid wastes that could be reused or recycled. The existing Molokai recycling program only accepts a few types of waste items, and it is not widely used by the community. Many people regularly scavenge the dump for car parts and other useful refuse that might be turned into a junkyard business. As for wastewater, our sewage treatment discharges the treated effluent into the ocean. A waste management plan will increase recycling, decrease amount of waste into landfill, and improve treatment of wastewater.

EC Support

EC funds have been utilized to assist the Solid Waste Task Force to collaborate with Maui County to develop a community-based recycling and reuse program.

Photo: Building of Earthship project. Courtesy of Molokai-Lanai Soil Conservation.