The latest in a series of recycling bin fires believed to have been deliberately set has done substantial damage to a recycling bin behind the ‘Ele’ele Shopping Center. Garden Isle Disposal is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to
The latest in a series of recycling bin fires believed to have been deliberately set has done substantial damage to a recycling bin behind the ‘Ele’ele Shopping Center.
Garden Isle Disposal is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for setting the fires.
Firefighters responded to a call early Monday morning, and found ablaze the portion of the Kaua’i Recycles program bin designed to accept cardboard.
Firefighters used water and foam to extinguish the flames, said Bob Kaden, Kaua’i Fire Department battalion chief.
No injuries were reported.
The first time a fire was reported in the bin was in November. The fire damaged the newspaper portion of the container, and the newspapers inside it, said Steve Kaui of Garden Isle Disposal.
The damage caused to the bin by the fire will cost thousands of dollars to repair, not including cleanup costs, said Kaui.
The threat of more fires is causing the firm to reshuffle their recycling operation. Garden Isle Disposal has six recycling locations at locations ranging from Princeville to Waimea.
With the loss of the bin at ‘Ele’ele, Garden Isle Disposal drivers must now collect the recycling bins, bring them to the company’s Niumalu Road baseyard for unloading, then take the empty bins back to the recycling locations.
With a seventh bin, drivers could drop the empty bin at a recycling location, then haul away the full bin, Kaui said .
The ‘Ele’ele incidents are not the only suspicious acts occurring at the recycling bins, he said. During the processing of recycled glass, the company has found nuts, bolts, drill bits, rocks, screws and other materials that have done damage to glass-processing equipment, he said.
“Someone is doing it on purpose,” he said.
The company is hoping to work with the community, Kaua’i Police Department and Kaua’i Chamber of Commerce Crimestoppers program to end the fires.
Rewards will go to someone who can offer solid information about whoever is burning the bins, or adding damaging, non-recyclable materials to the glass bins.
The Kaua’i Recycles bins are positioned at Waimea Canyon Park parking lot, ‘Ele’ele Shopping Center, Po’ipu Beach Park parking lot near Brennecke’s Beach Broiler, Lihu’e near the county Water Department and Kukui Grove 4 Cinemas parking lot, Kojima’s store parking lot in Kapa’a, and Hanalei Transfer Station near Princeville.
Recyclers can drop off aluminum cans, glass bottles, cardboard and newspaper at the bins. Aluminum is recycled locally. Glass is smashed, with some sold to homeowners and landscapers. Newspaper and cardboard are sent to Asia, where they are recycled into other paper and cardboard products. Other items are stockpiled on the island.
Anyone with information about the fires may call 245-2372, and may remain anonymous, Kaui said.
