Kevin DeWhitt- Olowalu Ash-Handled!!??

The video transcript captures an in-depth episode of the Maui Neutral Zone show hosted by Jason Schwartz, centered on the pressing environmental and public health issue of toxic ash disposal in Maui, specifically at the Olowalu temporary disposal site near the Central Maui landfill. The episode highlights the ongoing community concerns about the dangers posed by toxic dioxin-contaminated ash from the 2023 Lahaina fire, exposing the risks of landfilling such hazardous waste on an island ecosystem. Schwartz emphasizes that despite decades of research and expert testimony, authorities continue to push for landfill solutions that many experts consider inadequate and harmful. The episode incorporates recorded expert interviews from the People’s Council of Maui, featuring specialists in pyrolysis technology and sustainable resource management, who advocate for innovative, small-scale, and environmentally sound alternatives to landfilling. These experts underscore how landfills are outdated, unsustainable, and carry long-term environmental and economic costs. They present pyrolysis as a promising technology to convert plastic waste into fuel or reusable materials, demonstrating scalable and portable systems proven in other regions. Additionally, the discussion includes insights from international waste management experts who stress the importance of eliminating landfills to achieve a circular economy, drawing on European models where landfill use has been drastically reduced. Schwartz passionately calls for public engagement and political accountability, urging the community to demand responsible waste management that prioritizes health, sustainability, and long-term resilience. The show closes with a musical piece calling for peace and unity, reflecting the broader need for collective action and harmony in addressing Maui’s challenges.

Highlights

• [03:16] ?￯ﾸﾏ Introduction to the Olowalu toxic ash disposal controversy and the Maui People’s Council Zoom meeting.
• [14:13] ⚙️ Kevin DeWhitt of PDO Technologies explains pyrolysis tech as a scalable solution for plastic waste remediation.
• [32:06] ? Philip Schmid Patman from the Institute for Resource Management advocates for ending landfills to achieve sustainability.
• [35:55] ? Landfilling described as a false “sanitary” solution causing long-term pollution and economic burden.
• [40:05] ? Jason Schwartz challenges Maui leadership to reconsider toxic ash disposal strategies and listen to expert advice.
• [43:08] ? Historical context on environmental impacts of fertilizers and runoff damaging reefs, linking to ongoing contamination issues.
• [50:00] ? Closing with a song “Peace in Our Hearts,” symbolizing hope for community unity and healing.

Key Insights

• [04:05] ⚠️ Toxic Ash Disposal Risks: The current plan to store toxic dioxin ash near Central Maui landfill is fundamentally flawed. Landfills, especially on island ecosystems, pose a high risk of leaching toxins into groundwater and ocean, threatening marine life, tourism, and public health. This risk is compounded by the ash’s highly toxic nature, which has been extensively studied for decades but inadequately addressed by regulatory agencies.
• [14:13] ? Pyrolysis as a Viable Alternative: Kevin DeWhitt presents pyrolysis, a process of heating waste plastics without oxygen, as a flexible and effective technology. Unlike incineration, pyrolysis reduces emissions and converts plastic waste into usable fuels or raw materials. The technology is modular, containerized, and scalable, making it ideal for island settings like Maui to manage plastic and mixed waste without relying on landfills.
• [32:06] ? Global Expertise on Waste Management: Philip Schmid Patman brings a global perspective, showing that European countries have successfully phased out landfills by adopting integrated waste management systems focused on recycling, composting, and thermal treatment. He emphasizes that landfills artificially depress the true cost of waste disposal by externalizing environmental damage, thus hindering progress toward a circular economy. His organization promotes science-based, unbiased advice to help communities transition to sustainable waste practices.
• [35:55] ❌ Landfills Are Not Sustainable: The concept of “sanitary landfills” is misleading. Landfills inevitably leak toxic substances and create long-term environmental liabilities. Maui’s reliance on landfills for toxic ash and municipal waste contradicts decades of scientific evidence and global best practices, risking irreversible damage to ecosystems and human health.
• [40:05] ?￯ﾸﾏ Need for Political Accountability: Host Jason Schwartz stresses the disconnect between expert recommendations and local government decisions. Despite clear evidence for better alternatives, political and economic pressures maintain the status quo. Schwartz calls for public pressure, political change if necessary, and greater transparency to ensure that decisions prioritize community health and environmental sustainability.
• [43:08] ? Historical Lesson Ignored: The episode references past environmental research showing how fertilizer runoff caused algae blooms damaging West Maui’s reefs, illustrating a pattern of ignoring known scientific data. This history underscores the critical need for Maui’s leaders to heed current warnings about toxic ash and avoid repeating mistakes with long-term ecological consequences.
• [49:00] ? Community Engagement Through Arts and Media: Schwartz highlights the role of arts, music, and media in raising awareness and funding for sustainable initiatives. By integrating cultural expression with environmental activism, the community can foster resilience and support innovative solutions that align with Maui’s unique identity and values.

This episode of Maui Neutral Zone serves as a comprehensive call to action, combining local perspectives with global expertise to confront one of Maui’s most urgent environmental challenges. It stresses the importance of adopting sustainable, scientifically sound waste management practices and the power of informed public engagement to influence policy for the benefit of current and future generations.

Summary

• [00:00 → 06:19] Introduction and Context Setting

Jason Schwartz opens the show from Maui Neutral Zone, emphasizing the broad global reach of the broadcast, which airs on local Maui radio (88.5 FM KA KU) and Maui Community Media TV Channel 55. He notes that the show is accessible worldwide via YouTube and MauiNeutralZone.com.

The date is April 15, 2024, Income Tax Day in the U.S., which Jason references before pivoting to the main topic: the ongoing controversy surrounding the Olalo Temporary Toxic Ash Disposal Site near Central Maui landfill. He stresses that despite efforts, the County has not secured the land to permanently store toxic ash, which contains dioxins—highly dangerous toxins with long-term environmental and health impacts.

Jason expresses dissatisfaction with local government’s handling of the issue, noting that toxic ash should never be placed where it risks contaminating groundwater or the ocean, especially in an island environment like Maui. He shares skepticism about official assurances that waters in West Maui are now safe post-wildfires, emphasizing the dangers of dioxins and the long-term damage caused by toxic ash disposal.

He references a prior guest, Federal Reserve’s Don Brown, who shared personal experiences with dioxin contamination in New Zealand, underscoring the decades-long global history of dioxin-related health and environmental problems.

Jason calls for more public awareness and pressure on officials to stop transporting toxic ash to Olalo or any landfill, urging for safer containment solutions rather than continuing “temporary” fixes that merely hide the problem and allow toxins to leak over time.

• [06:19 → 13:39] Call for Public Engagement and Media’s Role

Jason announces that this show will be interactive and encourages listeners to call in (808-873-3435) to discuss and challenge authorities on their toxic ash disposal practices. He stresses frustration over years of discussions without meaningful solutions or implementation.

He highlights recent efforts by Eddie Garcia (Living Earth Systems) to contain toxic ash in containers on private properties, which may be a better short-term solution than trucking ash to Olalo or Central Maui landfill.

Jason critiques the ongoing focus on landfills despite expert testimony that landfills are a poor waste management solution, especially for toxic materials on islands. He laments the lack of political will to adopt alternative technologies despite clear evidence and expert advice.

He reiterates the stakes: the health of Maui’s residents, the environment, and the tourism industry all depend on responsible handling of toxic ash. He urges voters to hold leaders accountable in the upcoming election if they fail to stop the toxic ash disposal practices.

• [13:39 → 25:50] Segment: Kevin DeWhitt, Founder of PDO Technologies – Pyrolysis Solutions for Plastic Waste

Kevin DeWhitt introduces himself as a 24-year veteran in the pyrolysis sector—an advanced thermal process that heats plastics in the absence of oxygen to convert waste into useful fuels or raw materials without incineration.

Key points from Kevin’s presentation:

• Pyrolysis is not incineration: It operates without oxygen, avoiding combustion and the release of typical incineration pollutants; however, EPA regulations currently lump pyrolysis under incineration, which is scientifically inaccurate.
• The technology is small-scale, modular, and highly portable, capable of being containerized and shipped to islands like Maui, allowing nimble deployment without large centralized facilities.
• Early systems processed about 1,000 pounds per batch; current Generation 4 systems can process up to 10 tons of plastic waste per day.
• Products from pyrolysis include fuels usable as off-road diesel additives or feedstocks to create new plastics, promoting circular economy principles.
• Pyrolysis systems produce low emissions, managed with existing technologies such as oxidizers, and can be permitted even in regions with strict environmental regulations (e.g., Minnesota).
• Kevin stresses that while pyrolysis is not a perfect solution for all waste streams, it is highly effective for plastic waste and could be part of a distributed waste management strategy suitable for island communities.
• He acknowledges challenges in segregating plastic waste from ash or metals but advocates for integrating pyrolysis as part of a long-term solution.
• [25:50 → 38:40] Segment: Philip Schmid Patman, Institute for Energy and Resource Management (IRM) – Waste Management and Circular Economy

Philip Schmid Patman introduces himself as a resource management expert with 26 years of experience, including founding the Institute for Energy and Resource Management (IRM), a nonprofit independent of technology providers. IRM focuses on sustainable waste solutions grounded in science, economics, and policy.

Key points from Philip’s presentation:

• The US waste management system’s reliance on landfilling is a fundamental barrier to sustainability, circular economy, meaningful recycling, and waste reduction.
• Landfilling is artificially cheap because it does not account for long-term environmental, health, and maintenance costs.
• In Europe, particularly Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Austria, landfilling has been phased out or minimized (<5%), replaced by integrated waste management systems emphasizing recycling, composting, and thermal treatment.
• Germany’s recycling and composting rate exceeds 64%, with less than 1% landfill use, demonstrating a successful model balancing environmental and economic goals.
• IRM’s mission is to eliminate municipal landfilling by 2030 and replace it with sustainable, integrated systems that include waste reduction, recycling, composting, and energy recovery.
• IRM offers Maui expertise to evaluate ash disposal options, rebuild sustainably, and transition to renewable energy, aligning with traditional Hawaiian concepts like auwai and pūpū‘ā (watershed management).
• The organization works with global experts and cities with decades of experience in sustainable waste and energy management, including Hamburg, Germany, a zero-waste-to-landfill city since 1999.
• IRM stresses the importance of science-based policy and separating facts from special interest lobbying to protect public health and the environment.
• [38:40 → 46:47] Jason Schwartz Commentary and Urgent Call to Action

Jason reflects on the presentations, emphasizing the decades of experience behind the experts and their unified stance that landfills are an inadequate and harmful solution.

He challenges Maui’s leadership to review these expert insights and reconsider the current approach to toxic ash disposal, especially given the availability of advanced, proven technologies.

Jason expresses frustration over the slow pace and limited scale of current efforts (e.g., Eddie Garcia’s containerized ash storage), urging more decisive action.

He calls on the public to demand transparency and accountability, warning that failure to change course could cause irreversible environmental damage and public health crises.

Jason underlines the long-term consequences of ignoring these warnings, including generational health effects similar to those documented in dioxin-exposed populations worldwide.

He stresses the importance of using existing knowledge and technology now, rather than waiting for more studies or risking further damage.

Jason also highlights the cultural and community harm caused by toxic ash disposal practices and advocates for solutions that respect local values and ecosystems.

• [46:47 → 54:32] Closing Remarks and Call for Community Empowerment

Jason introduces his nonprofit, Mama Maui Arts and Music Association, which aims to combine cultural enrichment with environmental activism by using arts and music events to fund and promote sustainable technologies.

He underscores the power of community engagement and positive action to create meaningful change.

The show closes with a performance of Louise Lambert’s song “Peace in Our Hearts,” which Jason identifies as an anthem for hope, unity, and healing in turbulent times.

He thanks listeners and invites them to continue engaging with Maui Neutral Zone content weekly, reinforcing the outlet’s commitment to being part of solutions for Maui’s environmental and social challenges.

Summary Table: Key Stakeholders and Concepts

Key Insights

• Toxic ash containing dioxins poses severe long-term health and environmental risks, especially in island ecosystems like Maui.
• Current plans to use Central Maui landfill or Olalo site for toxic ash disposal are unsafe and inadequate, risking groundwater and ocean contamination.
• Landfills are inherently unsustainable and polluting; proven international models show phasing out landfills is both feasible and beneficial.
• Pyrolysis offers a promising alternative for plastic waste management, converting waste into useful fuel or raw materials without incineration.
• Distributed, small-scale waste management technologies are well-suited to island communities, offering nimble, lower-impact solutions.
• Public engagement and political accountability are critical to shifting policy toward safer, sustainable waste management practices.
• Integrating cultural, community, and environmental efforts through initiatives like arts and music can support funding and awareness for sustainable technologies.