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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Recycle centers can accept food containers if clean
Question: Where can I take Spam and Vienna sausage cans and aluminum foil to recycle on Oahu?
Answer: If they're clean and free of food, you can recycle aluminum food cans as well as aluminum foil and pans either via community recycling bins or residential curbside recycling pickups.
The city generally doesn't publicize the fact that aluminum foil, pans and food containers are accepted for recycling because it doesn't want to make recycling more complicated, especially for residents just starting in the city's new curbside recycling program, said Suzanne Jones, the city's recycling coordinator.
That's because, most often, food is stuck to the foil and containers.
"If it's clean, and people would like to include it in the recycling programs, that's fine," she said. "If they don't, we'll capture it at HPOWER (the city's waste-to-energy plant)."
Recycling occurs in many ways, she said, and one way is at the plant.
Jones explained that "virtually 100 percent" of the metals collected as part of household trash are extracted at HPOWER, then sold for recycling.
"We do not ask households to sort steel or tin cans into the recycling bins for this reason," Jones said.
She said steel is pulled out with magnets during the pre-processing operation, shredded to remove paper, etc., then sold for recycling.
After the trash is burned, "nonferrous metals are extracted from the ash using an eddy current and also sold for recycling," she said.
"Aluminum is targeted for the recycling bin because of its high value."
Q: Why was I given a parking ticket on June 13 at Liliuokalani Botanical Garden when it clearly states that parking is permissible during daylight hours? No other car in the lot was given a ticket. The fine was $35 and increases to $65 after 15 days. The location cited was H-375, and fines are to be sent to Parking Services, 439 Kamani St.
A: It appears someone may have tried to pull a fast one on you -- or you picked up the ticket for parking illegally elsewhere.
This is a good example of why you should carefully check any parking citation.
Liliuokalani Garden, located between North Kuakini and School streets, is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. During that time, parking for garden visitors is free, said city Parks Director Lester Chang.
The Department of Parks and Recreation does not have a contract with any company to monitor parking there.
Diamond Parking Services, located at 439 Kamani St., does not monitor parking at Liliuokalani Garden, a spokesman said.
The location cited on your ticket is for Dillingham Plaza, which it does monitor.
You're advised to check the citation to see what license number is noted. Someone may have stuck their ticket on your car -- it's happened before, according to the Honolulu Police Department and Diamond Parking.
Call Diamond Parking at 592-7275.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers