KIHEI, Maui — A pilot project designed to gather data on reducing yard trimmings that get thrown into rubbish cans will come to a close at the end of the month, according to Maui County Department of Environmental Management officials.

The pilot project, which allowed free drop-offs once a week for residential yard waste through a grant to Maui Earth Compost Co., will be discontinued at the end of data collection on Saturday, May 31.

"The public response to the pilot project demonstrated the importance of greenwaste recycling," said Cheryl Okuma, environmental management director. "There were 4,000 loads brought in over the 12-month period, which diverted a significant amount of material from the landfill into recycling. Over the next several months, the information gathered during the pilot project will be used to evaluate the possible development of a curbside greenwaste collection program."

Beginning June 1, yard trimmings brought to Maui Earth will be processed at the company's standard rate of $15 for the first cubic yard plus $5 for each additional cubic yard for both residential and commercial loads. Free yard trimmings drop-offs are accepted at EKO Compost, located at the Central Maui Landfill on Pulehu Road, and at the Olowalu Recycling and Refuse Convenience Center.

For more information on the pilot project, call the Department of Environmental Management, Recycling Section, at 270-7880. For recycling information, visit www.mauicounty.gov/recycle.