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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Cameron Carter, 15, tossed a plastic bottle while his brother, Brett, 13, and Eileen Helmstetter sorted recyclables at Manoa Marketplace yesterday. The recycling drive will donate all the redemption funds directly to UNICEF for the tsunami relief efforts, and continues today until 6 p.m.

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Recycling for a cause

Isle residents donate
proceeds from bottles and
cans to help tsunami victims

MARK Snyder started collecting plastic bottles in his garage three months ago, when he first heard about the state's new bottle-recycling program.

But when the Palolo resident turned his collection over to be recycled yesterday, he didn't get a penny of rebate money. Instead, he got the satisfaction of knowing his recyclables would benefit those devastated by last month's earthquake and tsunamis in southeast Asia.

"It's a worthy cause," Snyder said.

Dozens turned out yesterday to donate their bottles and cans to the effort, nearly filling up three Horizon Lines shipping containers by mid-afternoon.

"We're doing well," said Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club's Hawaii chapter, which helped spearhead the drive along with several other nonprofits.

He said he couldn't estimate how much they'd collected so far, but was confident donations would top $5,000.

The drive continues today, with drop-off sites open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shipping containers will be positioned at Manoa Marketplace, Kapiolani Community College's Lot D, and Victoria Ward Centre, at Ward Avenue and Auahi Street.

All proceeds from the drive will go to UNICEF. According to the Sierra Club, it takes just 207 returned bottles or cans (at 5 cents a piece) for UNICEF to provide a family with a 14-piece aluminum cooking set.

Ten family water kits, containing water purification tablets, detergent, soap, a wash basin, towels and a bucket, can be purchased with $87 (the equivalent of 1,740 returned bottles or cans).

"We want to provide residents an easy way to clear out their deposit containers while helping those suffering from the tsunamis," Mikulina said. "Folks can feel good about recycling while providing needed funds for tsunami victims."

At the Ward collection site yesterday afternoon, Stacey Shepard was one of several volunteers from the Waikiki Beach Boys Canoe Club who helped separate cans and bottles into bins. Earlier in the day, she had also handed over her own donation. "I've been hoarding ... two trash bags full of bottles and plastics," she said.

Also today, Castle Medical Center in Kailua will hold a rummage sale from noon to 4 p.m. to benefit tsunami victims. Four shipping containers and a house are bulging with donated goods -- ranging from clothing to furniture and household goods -- for the sale.

There will also be a silent auction, which features a Magnum, P.I. lined jacket with "Mahalo, Tom Selleck" embroidered inside.

Other items offered for bidding include dining and travel packages, professional services, a salsa dance lesson party, artwork and a home-cooked dinner for four with Castle Medical President Kevin Roberts.

All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross tsunami relief fund. And during the sale, Castle will also hold a free health fair with healthy cooking demonstrations, food samples and free health screenings.