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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Recycling bins only take
plastic drink containersQuestion: Regarding the recycling bins at schools and the plastics that I can deposit there: I know that the number in the triangle on the bottom of plastic containers correlates with the type of plastic. The recycling bins say that they only accept plastic beverage containers. Water bottles are coded 1s and milk containers are 2s. Can I recycle all plastic 1s and 2s there? Did they just say beverage containers to make it easier on us in case we don't read the bottoms?
Answer: The city specifies plastic beverage containers because that's the only kind it accepts in its community recycling bins -- at least for now.
"We are working to expand the types of plastics to include all plastic bottles, but the current processing contracts for the community bins are for beverage plastics," said Suzanne Jones, the city's recycling coordinator.
She explained that the number codes refer to types of plastic -- No. 1 is polyethylene terephthalate and No. 2 is high-density polyethylene.
"But the coding doesn't directly translate into market value," Jones said.
Beverage plastics -- soda, juice, water and gallon milk/juice jugs -- are among the highest value, because they're all clear or opaque, she said.
By comparison, although detergent and shampoo bottles are also coded No. 2, "the plastics are colored with dyes which lowers the value and the marketability," Jones said.
However, she said the plastics market is expanding, "so the public will soon see this reflected in changes in the types we can collect.
"Our new contracts for curbside collection include the expanded list of plastics, and the same will be true when we re-bid the community bins contract," she said.
Q: For months now, I've been awakened at 5:15 a.m. by a refuse truck that comes to pick up the rubbish at the Child & Family Service building at Aala Street and Vineyard Boulevard. I am not sure what the law is, but I don't think that's a very neighborly time to do that. Is there a way to let them know that it is bothersome when the refuse truck comes to pick up the rubbish every weekday morning at 5:15 a.m.?
A: Pickup should have changed to 6 a.m., beginning Monday, thanks to Aloha United Way officials.
The Castle & Cooke Community Services Center occupies the two buildings on the corner of Aala and Vineyard, which are owned by Aloha United Way, explained Susan Au Doyle, vice president and chief operating officer of AUW.
Child & Family Service is one of its lessees, she said.
After we passed on your complaint to AUW, officials contacted the property manager.
"I'm glad to report that our vendor, Oahu Waste, has confirmed that rubbish pickup at our building will change from 5:15 to 6 a.m.," beginning Monday, Doyle said.
There is no law that specifically prohibits garbage pickup at 5:15 a.m., but 6 a.m. is generally regarded as a decent hour to begin, both for city and private refuse trucks.
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