County rubbish-collection crews islandwide are following a new pick-up schedule that has them starting routes a half-hour earlier, according to the Department of Environmental Management.

Residents who receive county refuse service must have their containers ready for pick-up before 5 a.m.

The change, effective this week, was made as a result of recent negotiations between the county and the United Public Workers-AFSCME Local 646, officials said.

Because of the growing number of households in new subdivisions in Central Maui, refuse pick-up days for several automated routes in Wailuku and Kahului will be changing effective July 14. This includes customers along Waiehu Beach Road, Lower Waiehu Beach Road and in The Legends and other areas in Kahului.

Details of the service change will be provided in fliers sent to residents; only customers who receive fliers will be affected by the change.

The county also reports that refuse bills for the period of July 1 to Dec. 31, 2008, have been mailed out and reflect an increase in the monthly rate from $12 to $14 for Maui and Moloka'i and from $6 to $7 for Lana'i.

For more information on refuse collection in Central Maui, call 270-7452; for Upcountry and Pa'ia, call 572-3958. For general refuse information, call the Solid Waste Division office at 270-7880.