Posted on: Thursday, November 25, 2004

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. It's been one year since the big rain of last year closed the third hole at West Loch Golf Course. It's still closed. Why is it taking so long to make it playable?

A. Golf Course System Administrator Garrick Iwamuro said a series of problems kept the hole closed for months but it finally reopened last Thursday. He said strong rains caused the

Honouliuli Stream to overflow in front of the tee and silt build-up blocked the area under the bridge, forcing water to flow over the bridge. That meant the bridge was impassable and the area had to be excavated in May.

When that work was completed in June, Iwamuro said artesian springs located near that hole started to flow onto the course and flood the cart path and area fronting the green. "To alleviate this, a trench was dug across the fairway to the stream," he said. "Another drainage system was installed along the side of the cart path to drain the excess water into the stream." Then the fairway had to be filled and restored and that work was completed last week, he said.

Q. Under the new beverage container recycling law that is taking effect now I understand that after Jan. 1 we can take the specially labeled "HI 5¢" containers to redemption centers to get our nickels back, but what will happen to the bottles and cans that are turned in? Will they be reused with other drinks?

A. The bottles — both plastic and glass — and the cans will be crushed, shredded, melted and otherwise recycled into other products. They will not be washed and recycled as they once were, according to city recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones.

Q. Another "bottle bill" question: What if people buy juice and soda with food stamps or electronic benefits transfer cards? Do they have to pay cash for the penny apiece container fee and the nickel apiece deposit?

A. They can use food stamps and EBT cards to pay for the two fees, according to Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Tosaki of the state Health Department. She said a decision was made on the national level to cover the deposit program costs. However, another aid program, the Women and Infant Children program will require participants to pay the container and deposit fees separately, Tosaki said. She said only a few of the 100 percent fruit juice choices would have container/deposit fees attached to them.

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