Concerns And Costs Of Curbside Recycling

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By Barbara Marshall

Aloha, There’s no such thing as summer doldrums at the Council; we no sooner finished the budget than we found ourselves eyeball deep in long-overdue plans for solid waste management as well as a variety of other issues. But let’s begin with recycling.

CURBSIDE RECYCLING In last year’s election, some 75 percent of the voters said yes to a Charter Amendment which added to the charter, under Section 6-803. Powers, Duties and Functions -

“The director of the department of environmental services shall:

... (e) Develop and administer solid waste collection, processing and disposal systems including a comprehensive curbside recycling system.”

The wide interpretation of this amendment is that the voters “mandated” curbside recycling. One of the greatest motivations for curbside recycling - and better management of our solid waste - is reducing the amount of waste going into the Waimanalo Gulch landfill. And of course there are environmental benefits to recycling. So it seems like a great thing to initiate curbside recycling - to increase the amount of waste that doesn’t go into the landfill. But there are some issues for us living on an already expensive island that probably should have been made known before this vote.

Some of those facts were revealed to the 200 people across the Island who attended the city’s recent series of meetings on developing a sustainable recycling program. For the many of you who weren’t there, you should know:

Oahu already “diverts” 35 percent of its municipal solid waste from the landfill - better than the national average which is 27-32 percent. Some of that goes to H-Power, but remember if you’re arguing that H-Power isn’t recycling, that in fact every ton of waste that goes into H-Power creates badly needed energy to power this island.

Adding a curbside recycling pickup optimistically would divert another 2 percent - yes, that’s 2 percent - MSW from the landfill. That percentage would be lower if many people who currently recycle by using the recycling bins at local schools recycle curbside instead.

The city administration says it cannot absorb the cost of curb-side recycling and continue to provide two weekly rubbish pickups for residents. So curbside recycling would replace one rubbish pickup a week.

Because we are an island with no local re-manufacture of recyclables, there are a number of items that cannot be recycled. These include such common items as cereal boxes and Styrofoam containers.

That said, there are still many people who feel curbside recycling is essential if, for no other reason, than it’s better for the environment.

ONCE-A-WEEK PICKUP My concern over the mayor’s proposal all along has been the reduction of trash pickups to one per week. In a notorious experiment in the 1980s, Pacific Palisade neighborhoods were overrun with maggots and flies when the city attempted to reduce pickups. However, Karen Luken, an expert hired by the city to study the entire solid waste picture, points out that both Maui and Kauai have once-a-week pickup with no health issues reported. The city’s plan is to begin the experiment later this year in either Mililani, Kailua or Hawaii Kai. Since Kailua is still trying to cope with the greenwaste experiment, it might be better if another community began this one - but I welcome comments from you, the residents of my district, on this issue. The mayor’s current plan is to permit residents to pay for a second trash pickup a week ($10 a month in three-month increments) if they need it and can prove they are participating in the greenwaste and/or mixed recyclables program. There is, however, a resolution moving through the council which would discourage a second pickup, even if paid, as an “incentive” for people to participate in recycling.

It’s all a lot to take in - and there are many factors to ponder. Please let us know how you feel about this issue. And we invite you to discuss this or any other issue with me and my staff face-to-face at any of our 3 TALK gatherings. The next one is Thursday, Aug. 23, at Waimanalo Public Library. Please join us!

Mahalo, Barbara

Contact City Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall, District III (Waimanalo, Kailua, most of Kaneohe) at 547-7003.