Bill prohibits trash pickup before 6 a.m.

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

City crews and private garbage collection companies on O'ahu would be banned from picking up trash before 6 a.m., under a proposal by City Councilman Duke Bainum.

Now, city and commercial crews are asked to make their collections after 6 a.m., but there is no law against the pre-dawn collection runs.

"Early morning noise is a huge problem for many residents," Bainum said. "Even though we all know that garbage collection is a vital service to our community, people get upset when the refuse trucks come through their neighborhood in the early morning hours."

Similar bills were introduced in 1995 and 1997 by former City Councilman Andy Mirikitani but never got anywhere. The last attempt would have banned collections before 9 a.m.

Bainum, who represents the Waikiki-Kaimuki-Wai'alae area, said he's especially concerned about urban areas where the noise from the heavy equipment bounces between high-rise buildings.

City officials had no initial reaction to the proposal to restrict the garbage collection times.