Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Recycling survey may help save the pigs
All licensed food establishments in Hawaii are being surveyed this month to develop a statewide food recycling program and assure a healthy pig population in the state.Scott Turn, associate researcher with the University of Hawaii's Natural Energy Institute, which is conducting the survey, said the survey seeks to discover whether the establishments recycle their food waste.
"If they don't," he said, "is there a good reason why not, and if they do recycle, how much are they recycling and how are they recycling it?"
Turn said the state Department of Agriculture is interested in food-waste recycling because much of the recycled food in Hawaii is used as feed at local pig farms, and the department wants to minimize the chances of animal diseases being transmitted.
Turn said the questionnaires were mailed out earlier this month. Answering the forms is not mandatory but companies that participate are asked to return the surveys by Oct. 15.
Housing agency to offer loans
The state Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii plans to offer low-interest loans to spur development of affordable rental housing projects.The agency will make applications available Oct. 8 with a deadline of Jan. 7. Proposed developments must have at least 10 percent of their units affordable to those making 30 percent or less of the median income. At least half of the units must be affordable to those making 60 percent or less of median income.
The state's Rental Housing Trust Fund has awarded $54 million in project financing.
ML Macadamia maintains dividend
Big Island nut grower ML Macadamia Orchards LP will keep its dividend at 5 cents per Class A Unit, and the next distribution will be paid Nov. 15 to unit holders of record as of Sept. 30.The company's dividend yield is 5.15 percent and its stock has risen 6.3 percent this year. It closed yesterday at $3.97, up 9 cents.
