LIHU‘E — More than 50 businesses signed up for the HI-5 beverage-container-recycling program, said Alison Fraley, the county’s recycling coordinator, Wednesday.
Mele Kaui, handling the distribution of HI-5 recycling containers for businesses, said Wednesday was the first day businesses could come to pick up their recycling bins, and in the first two hours there were more than 25 businesses scheduled to arrive at the Kaua‘i Resource Center located adjacent to the Lihu‘e Refuse Transfer Station on Ahukini Road near Lihu‘e Airport.
The goal of the new recycling program is to maximize waste diversion by providing businesses with convenient methods to separate and divert aluminum, glass and plastic HI-5 beverage containers, states a county release.
“This is great,” said Laurie Goodwin of Syngenta Seeds in Kekaha. “We have more than 300 employees in the firm, and have a larger-scale recycling effort in the employees’ lunch room. But having something like this reminds the employees to recycle.”
There are two types of recycling bins available at no charge under the program, which started with an online survey, Monday.
The popular three-bin stacking system is labeled for aluminum, glass and plastic. There is also a 23-gallon “slim Jim” bin where the user would have to segregate the different HI-5 beverage containers.
Kaui said the specially made container features holes near the handles which secure plastic liners holding the recycleable containers. There is also special channeling at the bottom of the bin so, if containers leak, the liners aren’t sitting in liquid.
These bins have been purchased through a beverage-container grant from the state Department of Health, and may only be used for HI-5 containers, the county release states.
Businesses wishing to participate in the new program need to complete the online survey. Once the survey is completed, businesses can contact the County Recycling Office and arrange to pick up the bins at the Kaua‘i Resource Center. Visit www.kauai.gov/binstobusinesssurvey for the online survey.
Bins are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and are limited to one, three-bin stacking system, or one slim Jim per business.
Once the bins are distributed, the county will not be responsible for replacing lost or stolen bins, the release states.
Redemption of the collected HI-5 containers collected in the Bins for Business Program is the responsibility of the participating businesses, and the money collected through this program can be used to benefit the business or its designee.
For more information, contact Kaui at smkaui@kauai.gov, or call the County Recycling Office, 241-5112.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
