The Hawaii County green waste and organic recycling program is a vital resource for residents. It improves our soils, helps retain moisture, returns carbon to the soil and aids sustainable farming. The county is enforcing a 3 cubic yard maximum load for each customer at the Kealakehe facility in Kona. This policy forces residents and farmers needing larger quantities of mulch to travel a further 44 miles to the West Hawaii Organics Facility at Puuanahulu. Additionally, green waste drop-off is only allowed 3 days a week at Kealakehe, causing long lines and wait times for Kona residents.

A vast reserve of mulch is being stored at the WHOF and county mulch delivery trucks are often returning to Kona partially empty. We are asking the Hawaii County administration to;

1. Expand green waste drop-off at Kealakehe, Kona, to 5 days a week
2. Ensure a minimum of 400 cubic yards of mulch (4 full truck loads) are delivered to Kona each week.
3. Increase the maximum load per customer from 3 cubic yards to 15 cubic yards at Kealakehe.
    
   This petition has been prepared by the Hawaii Avocado Association with the support of the Kona Soil and Water Conservation District, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, Kona Ulu Co-op, and Kona Coffee Farmers Association. Please support Kona residents and farmers by signing this petition. Mahalo.