Posted on: Thursday, September 23, 2004

Lingle lagging on bottle bill, Sierra Club says

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Members of the Sierra Club Hawai'i Chapter yesterday questioned Gov. Linda Lingle's commitment to the so-called bottle bill, saying her administration has yet to make key hires or begin public education for the program that begins Jan. 1.

The state Health Department, in response, insisted that it is taking the necessary steps to ensure the program is implemented on time.

The Beverage Container Law places a 6-cent redemption fee on the sale of most beverage containers up to 64 ounces that are made of aluminum, plastic, glass or other material. Customers would be able to return each bottle for a 5-cent refund, with the remaining penny going toward covering the costs of the program.

The law was passed last year. Beverage industry leaders attempted unsuccessfully to push for an extension at the Legislature this past session, asking that they have more time to implement it.

Jeff Mikulina, director of the local Sierra Club chapter, said that the Health Department had yet to hire six additional staff to manage the logistics of the program such as labeling, material flows and management.

Mikulina said he is also concerned by what he believes is "the total lack of a plan for public outreach and education," noting that the services of a public relations company had not yet been procured.

State Health Director Chiyome Fukino, in a written statement, said the state is "working diligently" to implement the beverage container law. "The governor is committed to implementing the Deposit Beverage Container Law and the department has been working very hard to organize the many components necessary to for the success of the program," Fukino wrote.

Fukino said the Health Department is focused on the certification of redemption centers, which need to be up and running before the program can work successfully.

Additionally, she said, a public education and outreach program is planned for later in the year and that the Health Department expects to hire a new coordinator "within days." Potential vendors have met with Health Department staff, Fukino said.

Reach Gordon Y.K.Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.