Put old phone books
in recycling bins

Answer: Hawaiian Telcom, formerly Verizon Hawaii, says it will distribute new directories in October and will announce details of its annual recycling campaign before then.

As Verizon, the company held a recycling contest in which schools could earn money by recycling old directories.

Paradise Pages advises homeowners to deposit its directories in community recycling bins, although hotels and larger condominiums can call the company to arrange for large pickups.

Community recycling bins are located at most schools throughout Oahu. Telephone books should not be bundled or put in plastic bags, and should be deposited loose in the paper section.

There used to be a limited period when the directories could be deposited in the bins, but with so many more directories and distribution periods, the city has expanded the deposit period to year-round, said Suzanne Jones, the city's recycling coordinator.

However, there is concern for the future of telephone book recycling.

Recycling companies have indicated that new directories are being constructed with more clay in the covers and more glossy pages throughout, Jones said. That is "lowering the value of the paper to the point where it will bear a cost rather than a revenue return to market the books."

For now, the city's contracts for the community recycling bins are set with no costs for phone books, but that could change when the contracts expire, she said.

At a certain point, "it may make more sense to dispose of telephone books at our HPOWER waste-to-energy facility along with the rest of our combustible trash," she said.

Q: I have a problem with a new car and wanted to find out about the "lemon law." Can you help?

A: You can find out about the state's "Lemon Law" by calling 587-3222 and choosing option 3 or checking the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Web site at www.hawaii.gov/dcca/rico/scap_llaw.

The law is administered by the Regulated Industries and Complaints Office and is aimed at consumers who have repeated problems in getting new or leased vehicles repaired under a manufacturer's warranty.

It also provides for a process by which a consumer could be able to get a refund or a replacement vehicle from the manufacturer via the State Certified Arbitration Program, described as a "self-help arbitration process."

Your vehicle could be covered by the "Lemon Law" if it is new, including a demonstrator model or a car transferred to a new owner while the manufacturer's warranty is still in effect; and if it is used primarily for personal, family or household purposes, or individually registered but used for both business and personal/family purposes; and was purchased, leased or initially registered in Hawaii.

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