Posted on: Friday, November 5, 2004

UPW sues to stop city recycling plan

Advertiser Staff

The United Public Workers union filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking a court order to halt the start of the city's residential curbside recycling program this month.

The suit alleges that the city unilaterally plans to implement the program without negotiating with the labor union. It asks for the order to halt the program until the issue goes to arbitration. The suit alleges arbitration is required to resolve disputes under the union's collective bargaining agreement with the city.

Carol Costa, city spokeswoman, said the city received UPW's request for the court order. "The Corporation Counsel's Office will file a legal response by early next week," she said.

Curbside recycling has been one of Mayor Jeremy Harris' major initiatives.

The city began a recycling pilot program in Mililani last year, but suspended it in August after the state Labor Relations Board ruled the city continued the project after an agreement with the union expired.

In September, the city announced that the program would begin curbside collections this month in Mililani and several North Shore communities, then expand it across the islands over the next over the following months.

City recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones said 25,000 people have received blue recycling bins in the Mililani, Wahiawa, North Shore to Windward O'ahu area. That includes Whitmore, Lai'e, Hau'ula, Kahuku, Ka'a'awa, Kahalu'u, Hale'iwa, Sunset and Waialua. Delivery of the blue carts began last month and collection was tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-to-late November.

Jones said the city has heard from residents ready to start recycling their cans, bottles and newspapers but will await the results of next week's court hearing.

"We want to get this going, too," Jones said.