Posted on: Thursday, October 28, 2004

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. What's going on with these new fees and deposits on sodas and other drinks? First, there was a sign at the supermarket saying that the stores are charging a penny more on each beverage container that's a non-refundable fee. Now there's another notice that the stores will be adding another charge — a nickel on each bottle and can — beginning Nov. 1. What's going on?

A. We are seeing the consumer impact of the Hawai'i state Legislature passing the "bottle bill," which requires a refundable deposit on most glass, aluminum and plastic beverage containers. The law was passed in 2002 but is getting started in phases. It is now known as the Hawaii Deposit Beverage Container Program, since it's now a law, not a bill; and it applies to a variety of glass, plastic and canned beverages, not just bottles.

The program is designed to provide the refund fee of a nickel a container as an incentive for people to recycle their empty containers, instead of throwing them away or tossing them out as litter.

Steve Chang, solid and hazardous waste branch chief for the state Health Department, explained that stores may begin charging the nickel on each container on Monday and consumers can begin returning the empty containers to redemption centers on Jan. 1 to get their money back.

Chang said the new law requires retailers to charge the 5-cent deposit fee on Jan. 1, but the two-month lag time on when the fee is charged and when it can be redeemed was provided in the law to allow a transition period during which labels could be changed to indicate that a deposit is charged on the bottle, stores could prepare for the changes and officials could explain the program to the public.

Q. Can I get money back for all the cans and bottles I saved this year, if I wait until Jan. 1?

A. No, you can only get your nickel back on a container that is clean, not crushed and has a deposit label printed on the container. Some read "Hawaii 5¢" or "HI 5¢."

Q. How will I know where to find a redemption center?

A. The state law requires that stores that sell the beverages put up signs identifying the nearest redemption centers, which will be announced by Jan. 1, Chang said. He said the law requires redemption centers within two miles of high-density population areas and the state will work with counties and recyclers to set up centers across the state.

Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message along with your name and daytime telephone number.