The state Health Department announced today that the annual redemption rate for the state's beverage container recycling was 72 percent in fiscal year 2008 ending last month, up 4 percent from the previous year's rate of 68 percent.

A recent statewide survey by the Health Department also found that the overall number of people recycling rose in 2008 from 2006. There were more than 680 million containers recycled during fiscal year 2008.

Under a joint decision by the state director of health and the state auditor, the deposit plus container fee will continue at six-cents — a five-cent deposit to be returned to the consumer when the container is recycled and a non-refundable one-cent container fee for administrative costs.

The redemption rate is used to determine the container fee amount paid by distributors and consumers. If the redemption rate goes above 70 percent, state law requires the container fee to increase from one cent to 1.5 cents per container, unless the director of health, in consultation with the state auditor, determines that a fee increase is not needed.

In determining the need to raise the fee, the Health Department and auditor must decide whether program expenditures will be greater than revenues and whether the redemption rate will deplete the special fund balance to the extent that a fee increase is needed to cover additional program costs.

The statewide survey also showed residents still have mixed feelings about the program. The greatest improvement cited by respondents is having "more choices"—in number of centers, hours of operation, and shorter wait times—but satisfaction was down when it came to the accuracy of redemptions when containers were weighed.

"We are encouraged by the growing number of residents who are recycling, but there is still room to improve the recycling experience," said Karl Motoyama, of the Health Department Office of Solid Waste Management.

He said the state continues to encourage recycling companies to train their employees on customer service relations, and to provide customers with options when calculating refund amounts. "While some consumers prefer to have their containers counted to get back an exact refund, others prefer to have their loads weighed because it is quicker," he said.

The survey, conducted in April 2008, covered 701 residents, 400 on O'ahu and about 100 each on Maui, the Big Island and Kaua'i, with a 95 percent confidence level. Local market research firm Ward Research conducted the survey.

For more information on the State's Deposit Beverage Container Program visit www.hi5deposit.com <http://www.hi5deposit.com/>

Results comparing the 2006 survey to 2008 survey findings:

• Recycling activity: up 13 percent to 72 percent.

• Number of overall recyclers: up 12 percent to 82 percent.

• Number of people who visit redemption centers: up 10 percent to 60 percent —greater than either city recycle bins or nonprofit contributions.

• Overall awareness of HI-5: up one percent (91 to 92 percent).

• Redemption center satisfaction levels up specifically in number of centers, hours of operation, and shorter wait times, but down in accuracy of redemptions when weighed; 66 percent said their particular redemption center had worsened.