Posted on: Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Big Island residents also receive scrap value for redeemed cans
| • | Recycling site closing unless state pays bill |
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
Consumers redeeming aluminum cans on the Big Island are getting more than just the nickel-per-can deposit. They get an extra 20 cents in Kona and 25 cents in Hilo for each pound of aluminum cans redeemed — a benefit others in the state don't get.
Atlas Recycling on the Big Island may be the only redemption center operator in Hawai'i that pays the deposit plus a premium for the scrap aluminum.
"We've been in this business for 20 years and we've always paid a scrap value and there's no reason to stop," said Willi Allen, owner of Atlas Recycling. "I guess we could put it in our pocket, but we value our customers. It was just never a question for us."
Under Hawai'i's new container law, recycling centers aren't required to pay consumers scrap value for aluminum. Some people who had been recycling aluminum cans before the new law took effect, were accustomed to being paid for the value of the scrap aluminum. They weren't happy to learn that with the new law, they only get back their deposit on aluminum cans and nothing for the scrap.
Atlas appears to be the only redemption center operator that pays a premium for the scrap aluminum, said Health Department spokeswoman Laura Lott. The department has not surveyed redemption centers on the matter recently.
"It's up to them," she said. "That's kind of an internal business decision" for redemption centers.
The fact that consumers don't get paid the aluminum value for cans could be one reason redemption rates have been below state expectations. Of the 11 states with beverage container deposit laws only one, California, allows consumers to receive the scrap value of aluminum cans.
O'ahu recyclers, which receive a 2-cents-per-container handling fee from the state, said increased costs associated with the bottle law and requirements that recyclers accept less profitable glass and plastic containers precludes them from paying consumers the scrap value for redeemed aluminum cans.
Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.
