Maui updates trash pickup
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
KAHULUI, Maui — The county will begin automated refuse collection here this summer.
At a public hearing at 6 p.m. today at the Kahului Community Center, residents and businesses will be allowed to comment on proposed rule changes for the automated system, scheduled to begin July 1 in Kahului.
About 3,800 homes and businesses are scheduled to receive automated trash collection. The system will be much like those on O'ahu and Lana'i, where drivers operate trucks with automated arms that pick up 96-gallon rubbish containers.
The automated route became possible when Maui County and the United Public Workers signed an agreement last year. Under the agreement with the union, some workers were transferred to other routes.
County officials said they hope to phase in automated routes covering 75 percent of the island over five years, a move that would lead to services such as curbside recycling and greenwaste collection. Any expansion of the program will require agreements with the union.
David Goode, the county's director of public works and waste management, said two automated refuse trucks, each costing about $200,000, are being shipped to Maui.
The county is also acquiring 4,500 96-gallon containers, or "refuse carts'' with wheels, at a cost of about $375,000. They will be distributed to customers. The monthly refuse fee of $6 will not change.
In addition to rule changes pertaining to automated collection, there is a proposal to decrease the maximum weight allowed by customers using 32-gallon containers for manual collection.
The maximum would be decreased from 75 pounds to 50 pounds to match federal safety regulations.
Copies of the proposed rules are available at the Solid Waste Division, Department of Public Works and Waste Management, 200 S. High St., Wailuku.
The rules can be seen on the Web page for Maui County: www.co.maui.hi.us.
Written testimony should be addressed to: Solid Waste Division, Department of Public Works and Waste Management, 200 S. High St., Wailuku, Maui, HI, 96793, or presented in person at the public hearing.
