Recycling outreach begins
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The city plans to arm the public with information on controlling flies and maggots this summer, when the new curbside recycling program cuts free rubbish collection to once a week.
The city hopes curbside recycling will delay the need to build another landfill. • $2 million startup • $100,000 to educate public • $900,000 to initiate curbside recycling • $600,000 to pay recyclers to process trash
Flies and their larvae are the biggest health concerns associated with the reduction in refuse collection.
Startup costs
Frank Doyle, acting director of the city Department of Environmental Services, said the covered gray trash receptacles provided by the city should solve the problem, as will wrapping perishable food.
Doyle provided members of the City Council Budget Committee with additional details about the curbside recycling program at an informational hearing yesterday on the Department of Environmental Services' operating budget.
Councilwoman Barbara Marshall asked for assurances there would be no health risk associated with the administration's proposal to replace one rubbish pickup per week with green-waste and recycling collections. A second regular weekly trash collection will cost $8 a month.
The curbside recycling program will apply to about 160,000 households that have automated city trash pickup. Another 80,000 homes — primarily apartments — will not be affected.
The prospect of keeping garbage for a week rather than three or four days has raised a number of public health questions since the mayor announced his curbside recycling plan March 2. If the council approves, the program could begin as early as July 1.
KOBAYASHI
"Kaua'i and Maui have once-a-week collection. Why not Honolulu?" Doyle said.
"I think we're in a marvelous position with respect to our containers, as far as rodents or rats and everything else we could have on a regular, one-day collection service that didn't have the type of bin we have," he said.
Doyle said food should be sealed in a bag. "If you wrap them nice and tightly, the maggots won't get out of the bag."
Curbside recycling will cost $2 million at startup, Doyle said. That includes $100,000 to educate the public about the new collection programs, $900,000 to initiate curbside recycling through either city service or a private contractor, and $600,000 to pay recyclers.
Budget Committee Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi asked Doyle why the city was paying a recycler to take green waste when it can be turned into mulch and sold for a profit. "We're losing somewhere," she said.
Doyle replied that the city is paying to keep green waste out of landfills and make room for other trash. "Green waste to me is a good deal," he said.
Reducing the waste going into landfills is a pressing issue as O'ahu runs out of space to dump. The city's only dump, Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, will reach capacity in April or May, but Doyle said he expects a five-year extension to be granted by the end of April.
Mayor Jeremy Harris, who has called the recycling program mandatory, warned of random spot checks on trash bins and halting trash collection service for homeowners who continually put green waste or recyclable items in their regular trash pickup.
But Doyle said the program is not mandatory.
"What we're saying is we don't want those materials in your regular rubbish."
Residents can take materials directly to recyclers instead, he said.
Doyle said only half of all households are expected to participate in the curbside recycling program.
Reach Treena Shapiro at 525-8070, or tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.
