Recycling project stirs interest in Hawaii Kai

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Many of the more than 100 Hawaii Kai residents at a community meeting last night said they were happy -- yet still concerned -- with a city curbside recycling pilot program coming to their neighborhood, especially since it would eliminate their second weekly trash pickup. At a meeting at Hahaione Elementary School, Mayor Mufi Hannemann explained details of the project set to start Oct. 29.

Some residents, who said they already recycle, feel that curbside pickup would not make a difference, yet they would still lose the option of their week's second trash pickup. Others were happy the convenience of the program will push them to recycle more.

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Hawaii Kai resident Martha Molina, with six people in her family, often needs to take overflowing rubbish to the dump -- even with her current semiweekly trash pickups.

"We recycle most of our recyclables," Molina said. "I don't want to give up another trash pickup for a bin I won't use very much."

Molina was among the more than 100 Hawaii Kai residents at an informational community meeting last night, some of whom expressed dismay that a city curbside recycling pilot program beginning on Oct. 29 would eliminate a second weekly trash pickup next year.

Most residents said they liked the program yet were confused over which items they could recycle.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann answered questions from community members at a meeting at Hahaione Elementary School after announcing last week that a new six-month, $1.5 million curbside recycling project will be implemented differently in Mililani and Hawaii Kai.

From Oct. 29 through the rest of this year, about 20,000 households in the two towns will receive two trash pickups in addition to one recyclables collection every week, alternating between mixed recyclables and green waste.

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But starting Jan. 7, the city will eliminate the second trash pickup, while Mililani residents who still want the extra collection will have to pay $30 per quarter.

Many Hawaii Kai residents said last night that they see little payoff in the curbside program since they already recycle and will probably continue dropping off their cans and bottles for a 5-cent redemption and their newspapers to benefit local schools.

But Suzanne Jones, the city's recycling coordinator, explained that the program will also pull in residents who do not recycle to help reduce waste going to the city's landfill.

Jennifer Wells said she would be one of those residents.

"I think it's the start of something good," Wells said last night. "Having the pickup at home is easier. It takes a long time to accumulate enough items to stand in line and recycle. It will save space and time. I'm excited to start recycling more."

Hawaii Kai residents will receive the recycling bins later this month and into October. But many said they were unhappy that they would now be responsible for three bins instead of one. Residents who said they have too much trash can request additional bins if they show the city there is a need.

Some residents acknowledged that the program will take a lot of adjustment but remained optimistic.

"I've heard a lot of concerns tonight," said Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board Chairman Greg Knudsen, "but I haven't heard anything that people of Hawaii Kai can't handle."

Hannemann said he welcomes continual feedback since it is a pilot program, and says he is confident it could be taken islandwide.

The mayor will hold a community meeting at 7 tonight for Mililani residents at Mililani High School cafeteria.