CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Menehune Water Co. has begun labeling its products with the new 5-cent deposit marking as required by Hawaii's Beverage Container Deposit Law.

School challenge
kicks off bottle bill

The public schools that
recycle the most containers
will win cash prizes

A total of $75,000 awaits the Hawaii public schools that recycle the most glass, plastic and aluminum beverage containers by Dec. 15.

This year's School Recycling Challenge kicks off the state's Beverage Container Deposit Law, or "bottle bill," by recycling empties that lack the new 5-cent deposit mark.

Beginning Jan. 1, containers that have the 5-cent deposit mark can be redeemed for cash.

"It's an ambitious goal, but if every kindergarten through 12th-grade student recycled one beverage container a day and asked five others to do the same, in one month we'd recycle 34 million beverage containers," said John Valera, a state Department of Health environmental planner.

"That would be over 50 percent of waste beverage containers generated monthly," he said.

Last year, 48 schools statewide collected more than 1.4 million aluminum cans and collected prize money totaling $6,000, Valera said.

This year, the recycling extends to all types of containers that after Jan. 1 will be worth 5 cents a piece when marked for deposit. Except for the aluminum cans, the unlabeled containers aren't worth anything -- except to schools competing in the program.

Public schools participating in the contest will be divided into three size categories, based on enrollment. Cash prizes will be: $10,000 for first place in each size category; $5,000 for second place; $4,000 for third; $3,000 for fourth; $2,000 for fifth; and $1,000 for sixth.

"This is a great way to teach children the value of recycling and also serve to familiarize participants with the location of recycling centers in their area," said Larry Lau, state deputy director of environmental health.

A list of participating recycling sites will be posted on the Health Department Web site at www.hawaii.gov/health. And students and parents don't have to haul all the cans and bottles themselves, Valera said. Anyone who turns in cans and bottles at a participating recycling site can simply say what school they want to get credit for the containers.

The containers that qualify for the contest are the same ones that will be eligible for refunds, after Jan. 1 and when marked with the Hawaii 5-cent stamp. They include glass, metal and plastic beverage containers for water, juice, coffee, tea, beer, mixed alcoholic drinks and soda that hold 64 ounces or less. Not included are wine, milk and hard liquor.

All containers should be sorted by type -- plastic, glass or metal -- and plastic bottles should have caps removed. All containers must be empty of all liquid and have no dirt or trash inside them, Valera said.

The contest is open to all public schools. A parallel contest for private schools, which cannot receive state money, is being developed in cooperation with the Hawaii Food Industry Association, Valera said.

A look at the bottle bill Hawaii's Beverage Container Deposit Law take full effect Jan. 1, when 5-cent refunds on qualified bottles and cans will be available. Over the next two months, stores will be stocking shelves with marked containers and charging the deposit for them. Here are some questions about the law and answers based on the state Department of Health's Web site, www.hawaii.gov/health. The Sierra Club also has an informational Web site about the law at www.bottlebillhawaii.org, and offers to answer e-mailed questions about the law. Question: If the charge is 5 cents a bottle or can, will the redemption center count each container brought in? Answer: People bringing in recycling can ask for a by-the-container count for up to 50 containers. After that number, the center will weigh the containers to determine the amount of refund. Note: This means you must bring containers to the recycling center divided by type: glass, plastic or aluminum. Q: I've heard the containers have to be clean. Does that mean wash them? A: No. But all liquid should be emptied from the container and it should not contain any trash or dirt. Also, bottles should have caps removed. Q: Can I crush the containers to save space? A: No. The redemption center has to be able to see the Hawaii refund stamp on the can or bottle. Q: Will there be a limit of refund per day? A: No. Q: Can stores charge for bottles that are not stamped for deposit in Hawaii? A: No. Hawaii stores can charge a 5-cent deposit only on beverage containers marked for Hawaii deposit. Q: Are all glass, cans and plastic containers that are used for drinks redeemable? A: Not entirely. In general, water, sodas, juices, mixed spirits, beer, tea and coffee in containers less than 64 ounces are qualified. Key exceptions are wine, milk and hard liquor. If there's a Hawaii deposit mark on the container, you can get a refund. Q: Will the fee be added to the beverages in the soda machines? A: That will be up to the owner of the machine. Chances are, since they will be paying the 5-cent deposit and 1-cent nonrefundable fee, that they will pass it on the consumer. Q: What is the 1-cent nonrefundable fee for? A: The fee helps pay redemption centers, which will collect the containers and give people their deposit refund, and pay the state and county workers who monitor them. Q: What happens to 5-cent deposits that are collected and not refunded? A: They will become part of the state's recycling fund. Q: Will the designated sites to redeem these containers be conveniently located in our neighborhoods? Will they be located at the malls and shopping centers? A: The Hawaii Beverage Container Law calls for at least one redemption center every two miles in highly populated areas. The state will attempt to ensure that there are enough redemption centers to serve rural areas of Oahu and the neighbor islands. Q: Will more redemption centers open after Jan. 1? A: Yes, the state expects additional centers to be added throughout the year.