LIHU‘E — A 44-year male employee of Garden Isle Disposal was being treated at Wilcox Hospital following his exposure to noxious fumes Friday afternoon from chemicals that leaked out of recycled plastic containers in a Kaua’i Recycles bin that was
LIHU‘E — A 44-year male employee of Garden Isle Disposal was being treated at Wilcox Hospital following his exposure to noxious fumes Friday afternoon from chemicals that leaked out of recycled plastic containers in a Kaua’i Recycles bin that was brought to the company’s Nawiliwili facility, a county press release states.
A 21-year-old female employee was also exposed, but she refused treatment.
Firefighters from the Lihu‘e fire station responded to the 12:58 p.m. call.
The first responders found a small amount of liquid bubbling on the ground and took samples of the liquid for testing. They also search through the big pile of recycled plastic containers, and discovered mostly empty bottles of drain and glass cleaners and paint thinner.
The incident was turned over to state Department of Health officials at approximately 2:47 p.m.
County officials are urging the public to properly use the Kaua‘i Recycles drop bins.
“We’d like to remind everyone that materials dropped in our Kaua‘i Recycles bins should be clean and placed in the appropriate compartments,” said Allison Fraley, the county’s solid waste program coordinator. “No hazardous materials or medical waste should be placed in these bins as they pose a danger to workers who hand-sort recyclables.”
The Kaua‘i Recycles bins are clearly marked with compartments for aluminum, cardboard, glass, mixed paper, newspaper, plastic No. 1 and No. 2.
For more information on recycling and waste disposal, contact the county Solid Waste Division at 241-4837.
