HAWAI'I KAI — The prospect of once-a-week trash collection was not a deal-breaker last night for the Hawai'i Kai residents who filled a school cafeteria to learn more about how the city's curbside recycling program will affect them.

The city will roll out the pilot program Oct. 29 in Hawai'i Kai and Mililani. After a two-month transition period, the city will cut trash pickups in those communities from twice a week to once.

Mililani residents can pay $10 a month to keep their second trash pickup; Hawai'i Kai folks, however, won't have that option.

But the 150 or so people who attended a city briefing last night at Haha'ione Elementary School didn't appear too concerned by that. Rather, they seemed accepting of the program and asked practical, how-to questions.

"We want to get a better understanding of recycling, especially with the heat," Hawai'i Kai resident Pamela Reasoner said. "I live in a cul-de-sac and I'm concerned about the health concerns about not picking up two times a week."

BINS ARE ON THE WAY

Suzanne Jones, the city's recycling coordinator, said that with proper sorting, no one's gray trash bin should be overflowing.

"The more we reduce with recycling, the more we can divert to the landfill," Jones said.

The city has said that households that prove they are recycling and still need an extra garbage can will receive one for free. But both bins will be emptied once per week, on the same day — unless the household is in Mililani and pays the optional fee for twice-weekly collection.

Households should start receiving their color-coded bins — blue for recyclables and green for yard trimmings — in mid-October, Jones said.

Jim Smart, also a Hawai'i Kai resident, said he welcomes the program. He noted that he already recycles, donating his HI-5¢ cans and bottles to schools and dropping his old newspapers in the white community recycling bins at schools and churches.

"Thank you for picking Hawai'i Kai first," Smart said last night. "I think it's great. I support recycling. I already recycle. It's not about the 5 cents (per bottle). It's about recycling."

But resident Barbara Jamile said, "I see this as a cost to the schools who use the recycling bins for fundraising and a cost to us in terms of losing the HI-5¢ (redemption fee)."

JUNE REVIEW

Mayor Mufi Hannemann last night said the city will evaluate the pilot program in June.

"We want to gauge the effectiveness of the program before we go islandwide," Hannemann said.

The pilot project will serve about 20,000 households, including about 8,000 in Hawai'i Kai. Hannemann has said he is serious about expanding it and making it a success. The pilot project is expected to cost up to $1.5 million, while an islandwide program could cost $9 million per year, officials said.

The city estimates that once the program goes islandwide, the city can collect 80,000 tons of green waste and 40,000 tons of recyclables per year, Jones said.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.