Trash sites' service a struggle

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tesha Malama was getting ready for her goddaughter's graduation party yesterday and wanted to dump a bunch of boxes at the 'Ewa Convenience Center.

All the bins were full.

"What I'm concerned about is making sure people don't dump their trash on the side of the road," said Malama, chairwoman of the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board. "(The city) gotta get that center open. And when you're supposed to be open, your bins should be empty, your center should be ready to go. That's common sense."

Because all the bins were at capacity, the city had to shut down the 'Ewa Convenience Center on Geiger Road for an hour yesterday, creating an inconvenience for some 'Ewa residents who had to take their trash elsewhere.

This has been a common problem at the city's six convenience centers, residents have complained, but now the city is mounting an effort to ensure that bins are emptied regularly and that convenience centers are open — and stay open — during their posted hours.

"We think it's unacceptable that the convenience center should be closed at all," said city recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones. "It's important to have these proper disposal and recycling alternatives available to the community. This is one important element to combating illegal dumping and littering. If you want people to do it right, you have to make sure the services are there and they're consistent."

All six convenience centers on O'ahu are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

"And the community should be able to rely on that," Jones added.

The city plans to open Waimanalo Gulch landfill a half-hour earlier — at 6:30 a.m. — to allow city trucks to get in first thing in the morning and accept waste from the convenience centers.

In addition, the city is looking at setting up a contract with a private hauling company to supplement the city trucks as needed.

"We're working on remedies to put into place so we don't have to close the gates at all," Jones said.

This new plan comes amid a statewide campaign to curb illegal dumping. A law signed Thursday by Gov. Linda Lingle makes dumping large amounts of garbage illegally a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The law prohibits the dumping of 10 cubic yards or more of solid waste. The dumping is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $50,000 for each separate offense. A person could be charged with a felony if the cleanup of the waste costs more than $1,500.

O'ahu's six convenience centers — 'Ewa, La'ie, Wahiawa, Wai'anae, Waimanalo and Waipahu — were established in the 1970s because of illegal dumping, Jones said, and were set up in communities where, at the time, illegal dumping was a problem.

In the past two decades, however, convenience centers have changed. Instead of just roll-off bins for garbage going to the landfill, centers now have separate bins for green waste and combustible trash. There are also designated areas for white goods, auto batteries, car tires and propane tanks.

There is no cost for residents to dump their trash at these convenience centers.

Summer is a busy season for these convenience centers, Jones said.

"People are home more, they're cleaning carports, trimming trees," Jones said. "We do have a seasonal rush."

"Every community should have (a convenience center)," said 'Ewa Beach resident Jeff Alexander, who dumps trash at the 'Ewa Convenience Center a few times a month. "But those bins should be emptied in the evening, ready for the next day ... Any business would run that way."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.