About 1,100 residents and businesses on Maui that are delinquent in paying their refuse collection bills are at risk of losing their accounts, the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management announced yesterday.

Refuse collectors have been tagging and leaving behind refuse at addresses with delinquent accounts.

Yesterday, the county announced that the unpaid refuse collection accounts for the six-month period beginning January 2008 will be closed beginning May 10. Trash collection for the unpaid accounts have already ceased.

Holders of these accounts will be required to reopen an account beginning May 10. To avoid going through the process of reopening an account - which will include paying the past due amount plus the current billing period fees, the unpaid refuse collection payment of $72 must be made before May 10.

Payments may be made at the Solid Waste Division office, located at One Main Plaza in Wailuku, 2200 Main Street, Suite 225. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.

For more information call the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division, at 270-7875.