Foodland trying out
redemption centers

The recycling spots will let
customers get vouchers for cash

Three Oahu Foodland stores will start offering vouchers for cash or in-store payments in exchange for beverage containers in May, as retailers inch toward participating in Hawaii's 4-month-old bottle bill program.

The Foodland stores at Beretania, Ewa Beach and Laie will host mobile redemption centers staffed by RRR Recycling for two days a week each, with start dates to be announced.

"We know there has been a demand for more recycling centers, and we wanted to do our part to help," said Foodland spokeswoman Sheryl Toda.

The chief gripe of consumers since Hawaii's bottle law started refunding nickels in January has been the shortage of redemption centers.

Times Super Markets at McCully, Beretania and Kahala have been offering mobile RRR Recycling trucks two days a week each since February.

What Foodland will do different is have RRR give customers vouchers for the value of containers they have turned in, which they will redeem inside the Foodland stores for either cash or merchandise.

"We hope it will encourage customers to do their recycling with us and their shopping with us," Toda said.

Since Foodland announced its plans last week, "customers are very excited that we are offering this at our stores," Toda said.

Redemption will be available both with reverse vending machines and bulk weighing, Toda said.

Spokesmen for Longs Drug, Safeway, Star Markets and Daiei could not be reached for comment yesterday about any plans to add redemption options.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 212, which would offer $50,000 tax credits or up to $125,000 grants to businesses or organizations that set up state-certified redemption centers this year, has been assigned to a House-Senate conference committee.

The state Department of Health, which administers the beverage container deposit law, also is drafting a request for proposals for grants to help cover the cost of redemption centers.

Both measures propose to use a portion of the more than $12 million in deposit fees that have been collected but not refunded to customers.