Union, city have
tentative bargain

The deal could allow the
city to begin islandwide
curbside recycling

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said he has an agreement in principle with the United Public Workers union to allow the city to begin islandwide curbside recycling this summer.

"We have a handshake. We have a mutual feeling of trust that we're going to be able to do this without compromising their needs and certainly without sacrificing what we need to do with the kind of budget that we have," Hannemann said Friday.

"My discussions with (UPW State Director) Dayton Nakanelua have gone very well and that's why the date that we have set for the launching of curbside recycling is still very much one that we feel we can attain, and that's why we announced it at the State of the City."

Hannemann announced his plans for starting islandwide curbside recycling this summer during his State of the City address Thursday.

Former Mayor Jeremy Harris' plans to begin curbside recycling last year were stopped after the UPW, which represents city garbage workers, filed a grievance leading to a court order to halt the program until the grievance was resolved.

Hannemann said the main sticking point in the UPW talks was whether private contractors would be used to pick up newspapers, glass and other recyclables.

"I don't think we need to privatize. I think we can do it within the city budget and we can do it with city workers. That was a major point of discussion," Hannemann said.

Hannemann said that talks are continuing between the union, which endorsed Hannemann in last year's mayoral contest, and members of his Cabinet.

"We're making excellent progress. We don't see anything holding up the launching of curbside recycling other than the fact we've to make sure that we have the dollars that have been allocated to put forth such a program," Hannemann said.

Eric Takamura, director of the Department of Environmental Services, said that cost for labor for the program is $3.5 million and $2 million for a private vendor to sort the recyclable items.