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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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City says guard was merely doing his job
Question: At about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, I went to the Kapaa Transfer Station in Kailua to unload my 45-year-old bathroom cabinet/countertop lumber as part of the renovation that I'm personally doing. The attendant at the entrance questioned my van's contents. Before I could get out of my van, he had already opened the back door. He stated that it seemed "suspicious" that I was a homeowner, rather than a business person, because of the tools in the van. I really feel discriminated against and offended by his actions. How can a person do his renovation without owning tools? Rather than have the bulky-item pickup people deal with my trash, I took it upon myself to take it to the transfer station. The attendant at the upper station was extremely courteous in directing me to a stall after this unfortunate incident.
Answer: The attendant at the entrance is actually a security guard who is required to inspect every vehicle and check license plates to make sure no commercial materials are being dumped.
Commercial vehicles have license plates that differ from regular passenger vehicles.
You might have thought he was rude and discriminatory, but "we do not believe the security guard acted inappropriately," said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Services. "He was only doing his job."
The attendant at the top of the transfer station, meanwhile, doesn't have to check your load because "he knows that if vehicles pass inspection down below, the dumpers are legitimate," Owens said.
He explained that residential users may take their household trash -- at no cost -- to city-operated transfer stations/convenience centers, but they are limited to two loads per day.
Refuse from commercial enterprises or businesses, including tree trimmers, roofers, plumbers and farmers, is prohibited.
All commercial operators are directed to use the PVT Land Co. landfill, which is licensed to deal with construction waste, in Nanakuli. Commercial operators are assessed a fee.
Since you mentioned bulky-item pickup, we should point out that although city crews will pick up "minor home repairs/remodeling materials not to exceed one cubic yard," they will not collect construction materials and demolition debris.
Also on the list of items not collected: dirt, rock, concrete, large automobile parts and any refuse suitable for regular trash collection.
If you have any questions about what you can and cannot take to a transfer station or convenience center, as well as times and locations, check opala.org.
Or call one of the 10 sites where residential trash can be dumped:
Ewa Convenience Center, 226-2996; Laie Convenience Center, 293-8714; Wahiawa Convenience Center, 621-3648; Waianae Convenience Center, 696-4203; Waimanalo Convenience Center, 259-7182; Waipahu Convenience Center, 676-8878; Kapaa Transfer Station, 262-4248; Kawailoa Transfer Station, 637-5511; Keehi Transfer Station (accepts auto batteries and combustible material only), 845-1162; and Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, 668-2985.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers