MEDIA RELEASE

Tipping fees at the county’s West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill at Puuanahulu will be waived for the disposal of tsunami-related debris through May 13, 2011.

“We are helping our residents and businesses as best we can in the ongoing effort to clean up, restore and repair the damage done by Friday’s tsunami,” said Frank DeMarco, Director of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM).

Tipping fee waiver forms will be available at the landfill’s scale house when bringing in tsunami-related debris for disposal. Residents must complete the form to have debris weighed before dumping in the landfill without charge.

A spotter at the landfill will inspect to make sure that the loads are tsunami-related debris.

The waiver forms for tsunami-related debris disposal have been pre-approved by Mayor Billy Kenoi and the DEM. Tipping fees are set by the County Code at $85 per ton unless waived for special purposes.

As an added service, the county Department of Public Works has placed a trash bin next to King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel for the disposal of tsunami-related debris from area businesses.

Kenoi issued an Emergency Declaration for the County of Hawaii following the tsunami that struck Hawaii Island on Friday, March 11, 2011, causing substantial property damage in several West Hawaii coastal communities.