ISLAND VOICES
We all have to do our part on recycling
By Suzanne Jones
As new recycling programs and initiatives come on line, the focus should be on the ultimate goal — protecting our island environment and communities from more landfills by reducing waste going into the landfill and eventually, hopefully, eliminating our need for landfills altogether.
Our mayor has set the first deadline in 2008 for closing Waimanalo Gulch Landfill.
Particularly for an island community, landfilling is simply not a sustainable method for managing our waste. We need more recycling, more composting, expansion of waste-to-energy and to continue to explore new technologies.
All of us in government are committed to this goal. And as new, major initiatives are launched around the Islands to increase recycling, please stay committed to helping them work and allowing time for the programs to settle in and mature.
The nitty-gritty of recycling more of our waste means everyone gets engaged in sorting glass, plastic, aluminum, paper and green waste, and using curbside recycling and drop-off or redemption centers. It involves changing the way we do things. Even when we're in agreement that the change is good, it still causes some discomfort as we break out of old routines. Add that to some real inconveniences during the startup of new programs, and we've got outright whining and complaining and criticism of directions and choices.
Curbside recycling is not an alternative to the bottle deposit program, or vice versa. They are complementary systems. We need to employ both programs plus more in order to capture the recyclable portions of our waste from all points around the island. There isn't any single program that will get the job done.
Redemption of deposit containers will become more convenient. More redemption centers are coming online weekly. Our local recycling companies are gaining experience with this new deposit system and are already improving their operations, speeding up processing and reducing lines. In the coming months, the hours of operation will be extended, and eventually automated technology will become more common and streamline the overall systems. Once the retailers come onboard and allow the recycling companies to set up redemption at stores, redemption will be easier for everyone.
The start of curbside recycling is just around the corner, and even the best of implementation plans for a project of this scope means that we've got to roll up our sleeves and be ready to make adjustments as we go. The islandwide program will include over 160,000 homes in neighborhoods with varying logistical challenges.
We need your feedback. That's how we identify and work out the kinks. We need your support as well. This is a big job, but well worth the effort on all our parts.
Recycling will never be as convenient as throwing it all away, but it was the convenience of disposal that got us to this point of so much waste. Now it's time for new directions, changing old habits, a bit of patience and a vision for the future of our island home.
Suzanne Jones, the city's recycling coordinator, can be reached at 692-5410 or through www.opala.org. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.
