Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Recycling fees are
in effect for bottlesQuestion: I went to Costco recently and purchased bottled water. The receipt showed "HI beverage" charge of 18 cents for $6.69 of K.S. Water. I assume that this is the state bottle charge. What do I do to make the 18 cents back -- has bottle recycling for pay been set up?
Answer: Although you've already started paying a fee for "bottle" recycling, you're not yet paying a deposit.
Once you start paying a 5-cent deposit for beverage containers, you'll be able to get a refund by recycling. But that's not slated to take effect until Jan. 1, 2005, although it could be implemented earlier under the language of the law.
The so-called "bottle bill" became state law on June 25. On Oct. 1 the law required a half-cent advance disposal fee on each plastic or aluminum beverage container, payable to the state general fund. For a case of 36 bottles, that adds up to 18 cents.
Glass containers are excluded because they already are being assessed a 1.5-cent fee each by the state.
The advance disposal fee is meant to help fund the system, once the recycling/redemption program kicks in.
Each redemption center would receive 2 cents for every container collected to help cover the costs of recycling. That money is to come from the general fund, as well as from unclaimed deposits.
Excluded beverages are syrups, concentrated products, extracts, medical foods, infant formulas, frozen products, instant drink powders, broths, milk and all other dairy-derived products, except tea and coffee drinks with trace mounts of dairy products. Also excluded are alcoholic beverages other than beer and/or mixed spirits and mixed wine.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2004, the monthly deposit fee paid to the state on each applicable covered container will be upped to 1 cent. Glass beverage containers will be reduced to 1 cent each as well, although nonbeverage glass containers will continue to be assessed the 1.5-cent fee.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, every deposit beverage container sold in Hawaii is required to have a refund value of 5 cents. Beverage suppliers or importers must pay the 5 cents to the state, in addition to the 1-cent fee.
Retailers can either pass on the nonrefundable fee to customers as a separate line item on receipts or absorb the fee as part of the cost of the product.
Tax preparation help
Information on free tax preparation services available for senior citizens, low-income, non-English-speaking or disabled taxpayers will be published in the Jan. 26 "Kokua Line."The Tax-Aide Program, in which trained volunteers help prepare federal and state income tax returns, is offered February through April by the AARP, Internal Revenue Service and state Department of Taxation.
Mahalo
To all the kind people who helped my husband when he fell at Straub Clinic near the gift shop, especially the lady in a gray dress or uniform who kept watching us as we walked away until I waved to her that he was OK. God bless you all for your kindness and thoughtfulness. May you all have a wonderful new year. -- No Name
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Useful phone numbers
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