Answer – Residential recycling and trash services aren’t free anywhere. Someone must pay for managing the overall system, equipment, labor, and fuel costs. These services are usually paid for by local property taxes. In Hawaii County, Big Island taxes do not cover residential pickup and hauling services. Private vendors offer these services for a fee.
Hawaii Island Facts
Hawaii Island residents pay about $27 Million annually in taxes for solid waste. An estimated $11 Million is lost by landfilling instead of selling recyclable material – Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan (2009).
Hawaii Island Landfills – There are two landfills in operation, one in Hilo and one in Waikaloa. The Hilo landfill is almost at capacity. It is in violation of EPA regulations, and sections are not lined. Hilo is the rainiest city in the U.S. and chemicals and hazards leach into island water tables, into the ocean and reef systems.
The old Kona landfill (no longer in operation) is not lined, violates EPA regulations, also suffers from leaching, and smoldering smoke from ongoing chemical fires currently burning within it.
Here in the photo below are some of the service people who work to sort and capture the materials to save them from the landfill and to direct them to the industries where they can be used again. Below that is our local recycling center.
Please send your name and email address, if you are interested in future in-person “Trash Talk” gatherings, to cathyron@me.com
See website below if you have not signed up for Hana Hou recycling yet.
Mahalo,
Cathy O’Neill – homeowner
&
Sarah Riznyk of
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