Recycling plan would need $12.6 million

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

New equipment needed for expanding curbside recycling islandwide would cost $12.6 million over seven years, and running the program would cost about $3 million more per year, officials said.

The plan would require the city to buy two new bins each for up to 140,000 homes to separate mixed recyclables and lawn clippings from trash.

Mayor Jeremy Harris said he hopes to start the expansion this summer and phase it in over the rest of the year. But the plan faces scrutiny from City Council members who question whether the city is ready to go that far and whether all costs are known.

Several council members were surprised to learn yesterday that officials had set aside $1.8 million for the program that was authorized last year to buy unrelated equipment.

"I have a lot of questions, but we need answers, not creative responses," said Ann Kobayashi, council budget chairwoman.

City environmental services director Frank Doyle said the city would likely have to hire 22 more workers to help implement the program. A private firm would process the recyclables, and could be also hired to collect them, he said.

The city has requested bids from equipment suppliers and could start receiving the new bins by mid-May, Doyle said.

The plan is to expand a curbside recycling pilot project that began five months ago in Mililani with about 11,000 homes.

Harris said no fees for garbage pickup will be linked to the expanded program. An earlier plan called for an $8 monthly fee for a second day of garbage pickup per week.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.