Aloha ‘Aina Recycling Days Converting Trash Into Cash

Carol Chang
Wednesday - May 31, 2006
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State Rep. Marcus Oshiro (back to camera), Leilehua students and teachers help residents unload their cars during a community recycling drive last month that earned thousands of dollars for the school. Photo from Rene Mansho.
State Rep. Marcus Oshiro (back to camera), Leilehua
students and teachers help residents unload their
cars during a community recycling drive last month
that earned thousands of dollars for the school.
Photo from Rene Mansho.

Leilehua High School held a major community recycling drive last month with the help of volunteers, the city, businesses and Schnitzer Steel (formerly Hawaii Metal recycling).

For six hours on April 22, the team collected everything from large appliances to cardboard,redeemable containers to bicycles and green waste.

The result? Twenty tons (five truckloads) of scrap metal, one truckload each of tires, batteries, green waste, refrigerators, air conditioners, gas-filled appliances and compacted trash for HPOWER.The biggest result, however, was more than $3,000 in cash from bottles and cans, donated by Schnitzer Steel to the school.

“We can divert the waste from the landfills,“explained Rene Mansho, Schnitzer’s community relations director. “People are so frustrated that others are dumping, and this a chance for good Samaritans to clean up in the neighborhood.”


Schnitzer Steel is cooperating with the city and other recyclers to stage monthly recycling days to benefit a community group. Mansho said proceeds have ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on how large each collection is.

Other drives are set for July 29 for Waialua Complex schools and Aug. 12 for Mililani High School. Banners, posters, fliers and announcements on ‘Olelo TV alert the public to the drives.


Schnitzer Steel, Refrigerant Recycling, Honolulu Recovery Systems and Hawaiian Earth Products all donate their services to the project, along with local law-makers, Unitek Solvent Services, Interstate Battery Systems of Hawaii and Grace Pacific Hawaii.

For more information on Aloha Aina Earth Day (the collection program), call Mansho at 682-5810.

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