By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Q: How do I dispose of my mercury thermometer? I even called the hazardous waste disposal people several times and they never got back to me.

A: On O'ahu, people who want to throw away mercury thermometers should call the city's Household Hazardous Waste line at 523-4774 and make an appointment to dispose of them at one of the collection drives held every three months. The next collection drive is Sept. 14.

That phone number leads to a taped information line — including how to correctly dispose of items like motor oil and paint — with an option to reach someone within the city's Department of Environmental Services to get details. Information on how to dispose of various household items is also listed on the city's environmental services Web site.

For information on recycling and how to handle household hazardous wastes on the Neighbor Islands, call 241-6891 on Kaua'i; 270-7880 on Maui; (888) 991-4000 on Moloka'i and Lana'i; 961-8339 on the Big Island.

In response to our last column on handling extra trash, a Kahala reader called to point out that people may reduce their trash by using the city's yard waste curbside collection program. The service picks up yard waste such as leaves, branches, hedge and tree trimmings and grass. The curbside yard waste collection is available twice a month to O'ahu homes that have automated trash collection service. Yard waste collection days are printed on the sticker on the rubbish cart and it helps to time your big yard-cleaning efforts to just before the pickup.

Homeowners are encouraged not use the automated trash cart for yard waste but instead bag, bundle (cut waste into 3-foot lengths) or use collection containers no larger than 35 gallons. If your trash cart doesn't have a sticker, or if your yard 'opala is still sitting at the curb after a month, call your neighborhood collection yard: 'Aiea-Pearl City-'Ewa, 455-9644; Hale'iwa-Waialua, 637-4795; Honolulu, 527-6858, 527-6854, 523-4424; La'ie, 293-5657; Kane'ohe-Kailua-Waimanalo, 262-7298; Wahiawa-Mililani, 621-5241; Wai'anae, 696-3421.

For details on recycling, call 527-5335 or check out the city's recycling and waste disposal site.

Do you ever get frustrated or confused trying to navigate the various layers of government? Are you looking for an answer to a simple question but can't figure out where to start? If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:

• e-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com

• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message.

Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number.