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Hawaiis' Recycling Facts and Supports
Recycling in the beatiful islands of Hawaii is important and has been put under more and more attention in the recent years, through the government's efforts along with other private supports. .
In year 2006, the population of the state of Hawaii was estimated to be 1.2 million, and more than 60 % of the population resides on Oahu. It was estimated that more approximately 1.76 million tons of waste is generated from residential, commercial and industrial sources. Currently there are two landfills in operation--Waimanalo Gulch and Nanakuli (only permitted for construction and demolition use). As the Waimanalo Gulch landfill was reaching its capacity, the state approved an expansion on the landfill area in 2003 that was expected to add 5 years of storage capacity. Recycling, which diverts more than one million tons of waste from landfills annually, employees a crucial role in reducing the amount of waste in the islands of Hawaii.
Below is a summary of the City's recycling related ordinances. Cardboard from commercial and government generators is RESTRICTED from disposal. Commercial and government trucks are limited to a maximum of 10% cardboard per load. Local paper recyclers pay for cardboard. (Restrictions began in 1994) (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 - 1.7)
Tires, auto batteries, white goods and scrap metals are BANNED from all City disposal sites, effective 1994. State law requires dealers to take your old tires and recycle them. City-collected residential tires are delivered to a recycler.(See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 - 1.7)
Bars and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages are required to recycle glass containers, effective July 1, 1996.
Office buildings with 20,000 square feet or more of office space are required to recycle office paper, newspaper and cardboard, effective July 1, 1996. Hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, food courts, food manufacturers/processors and hospitals meeting specific size criteria defined by ordinance are required to recycle food waste, effective January 1, 1997. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 - 3.1) City agencies are required to recycle newspaper, cardboard, office paper, aluminum, glass, and plastics through government mandatory recycling program established in 1990 for all City agencies. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 - 1.11)
Please visit the following websites for more information:
Honolulu City and County's Department of Environmental Services, which provides abundant and up-to-date information on recycling in Hawaii,
Recycle Hawaii, a non-profit, private organization that provides education and tips for recycling. Recycle HI-5, from the Hawaii State Department of Heath that provides information on Hawaii's beverage container deposit program H-power, Oahu's waste turns into energy
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