LIHUE — All Reynolds Recycling locations, including the three on Kauai, are expected to reopen today after halting operations Thursday following payment issues with the state Department of Health. In a written statement, Deputy Health Director Gary Gill said the
LIHUE — All Reynolds Recycling locations, including the three on Kauai, are expected to reopen today after halting operations Thursday following payment issues with the state Department of Health.
In a written statement, Deputy Health Director Gary Gill said the department resolved the situation Thursday by cutting Reynolds a check for about $700,000 for invoices presented to DOH on June 10 and June 17.
“This payment was made 16 days after receipt of some of these invoices and nine days after receipt of others,” he said. “While this payment took a few days longer than usual, it concerns us that such a minor delay would lead to the closure of a statewide recycling operation.”
The company, which has 35 redemption centers on Oahu, Maui and Kauai, closed its doors Thursday, saying it would not reopen until the state paid what was owed.
“Thank you for your understanding, and we apologize for any inconvenience this causes to our thousands of customers,” Reynolds wrote on its website.
Gill said that for many years Reynolds has been a leader in Hawaii’s efforts to recycle glass, metal and plastics. The department reimburses recyclers for the thousands of dollars worth of 5-cent deposits that they return to consumers when HI-5 containers are redeemed.
“Our payment to recyclers is usually made within 10 days of receiving a proper claim,” Gill said. “This month, the payment to Reynolds was delayed by a few days.”
On Kauai, Reynolds operates HI-5 centers in Lihue, Kapaa and Lawai. All other HI-5 centers on the island remained open, including the Kauai Resource Center on Ahukini Road in Lihue, and the site in the Arzadon Industrial Park in Kapaa, the county said in a release.
Although he regretted the company’s decision to temporarily close, Gill said DOH is “committed to working closely with all the recyclers in the state to assure that consumers are provided convenient and efficient services that help reduce the necessity of landfills in Hawaii.”
Officials with Reynolds Recycling could not be reached for comment.
• Chris D’Angelo, environment writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or cdangelo@thegardenisland.com.
