A call law to reform Hawai‘i’s fledgling container recycling is being made by the administration of Governor Linda Lingle. Her senior advisor, Linda Smith, sent a letter this weekend to Hawai‘i’s newspapers calling for immediate changes. “There is ample time
A call law to reform Hawai‘i’s fledgling container recycling is being made by the administration of Governor Linda Lingle.
Her senior advisor, Linda Smith, sent a letter this weekend to Hawai‘i’s newspapers calling for immediate changes.
“There is ample time to fix the system, we just need the bipartisan political will to admit an error was made and fix it,” Smith wrote. “Rather than continuing the blame game, let’s work together to make recycling a success.”
The opinions of Kaua‘i residents on how the bottle bill system works are mixed.
Bill Harper of Kalaheo said his tenants in Kalaheo have set up three collection bins to assist them in recycling containers.
However, he said the system appears to be flawed.
“It sounds very confusing to me,” he said.
Harper said the bottle and can redemption system “will cost to whoever is dealing with it.”
“I know we want to clean the island up, but it seems very clumsy,” he said. “It’s hard on grocers, it seems expensive and hard to handle, not simple like other states.”
Don Tofte of Princeville, who manages condominium vacation rentals, said adding a nickel deposit to beverage containers has stepped up recycling efforts.
Tofte said prior to the implementation of the bottle bill, condo cleaners would drop empty aluminum cans in bins located next to dumpsters at condominium projects. Recyclers then picked up the cans to cash them in at recycling centers.
He said now the cleaners drop into the bins every container that has the HI5 label on it.
“It’s like throwing nickels away,” he said of tossing beverage containers in the garbage. “It’s working,” he said of the system. “Now we don’t (toss them).”
“In Hawai‘i, the law entangles the state in this recycling web by mandating that stores send the fivecent deposits plus a nonrefundable onecent handling fee to the state,” Smith said. “These monies go into a state bank account that is then used to contract with counties and recyclers to set up redemption centers The National Auction where the public can redeem their bottles and cans for cash. This has resulted in a situation where there are not enough centers open, and those that are open are understaffed, making it inconvenient for people to return their ‘empties.’”
Hawai‘i became the eleventh state to create a beverage container deposit system in 2002, though the system didn’t begin working until 2004, and wasn’t fully implemented until last month.
What is known as the “Bottle Bill” was approved during the 2002 session of the Legislature, and signed into law by Gov. Ben Cayetano.
Backers of the bill included State Rep. Mina Morita, DNorth and East Kaua‘i. The legislators hope to increase recycling rates to over eighty percent for the containers and noticeably reduce litter around Hawai‘i. Morita was unavailable for comment Saturday.
A fivecent deposit is now being applied to all beverages sold in glass, plastic and metal containers. Exempt are milk, wine and spirits.
“We can understand the problem with Hawai‘i’s beverage container law by looking at arrangements in other states,” Smith said. “Most of the ten states that have mandated container deposits recognize that recycling should be a simple transaction between a grocery store and a consumer. When consumers come into the store, they pay the deposit on their bottles and cans. They get their full deposit refunded when they return the bottles and cans to the store. Deposits from cans and bottles not returned are used by the stores to pay for the recycling program, whether it be purchasing reverse vending machines, hiring extra staff, designating extra space for storage or ensuring the stored containers are clean and sanitary.”
Smith said some container recycling centers write their own ad hoc rules, that aren’t part of the state law, forcing recyclers to wash the bottles, remove caps and labels.
- On the Web: State Department of Health deposit program www.HI5deposit.com
Kaua‘i ‘Bottle Bill’ redemption centers
Kapa‘a
Kapa‘a Garden Island Disposal
Kojima Store 051543 Kuhio Hwy. Wednesday 9 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Closed for lunch noon 1 p.m.
Kapahi
Kapahi Reynolds Recycling
5675B Kawaihau Road, Kapa‘a TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5p.m. Closed for lunch noon 1 p.m.
Lawa‘i
Lawa‘i Garden Island Disposal
023687 Kaumuali‘i Hwy. Saturday 9 a.m. 3:30 pm Closed for lunch noon 1:00pm
Lihu‘e
Garden Island Disposal
2666 Niumalu Road Monday Friday 8 a.m. 4 p.m. Closed for lunch noon 1:00 Saturday 8:00am noon
Nawiliwili Harbor Reynolds Recycling (Near Hale Kauai) Corner of Wilcox & Kanoa St. Tues. Sat. 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Closed for lunch noon 1 p.m.
Princeville
Princeville Garden Island Disposal Prince Albert Park Emmalani Rd. & Ka Haku Rd. Friday 9 a.m. noon
