LIHUE — After 38 years in Nawiliwili Harbor, Reynold’s Recycling Inc. will be relocating to the Kauai Resource Center on Ahukini Road.
“Saturday is our last day (at the Nawiliwili location),” Manager Kenneth Ramos said. “We get out of here Thursday. Thursday, we should be out of sight.”
Terry Telfer, president of Reynold’s Recycling, said they are excited to be able to reopen at the Kauai Resource Center and appreciated the hard work of the staff of the Kauai Solid Waste Division.
“We look forward to welcoming current and new customers to a bright and newly-refreshed location,” he said in a press release. “We hope to continue to enjoy the patronage that has enabled us to serve the people of Kauai from this new location for many years to come.”
All current Nawiliwili staff will be relocated to the new location.
According to Ramos, Reynolds is being kicked off the site.
“They like this place, the gas company like this place,” he said. “They’re not the owner, the state is the owner actually, but we been here 38 years and they kicking us out.”
Hawaii Gas is in the process of leasing the property that Reynold’s will be vacating, according to Russ
Winkelman, their general manager.
“We’ve been looking at the property for almost four years now,” Winkelman said. “We’ve gone through a series of SMAs (special management area), environmental assessments and everything. Because it’s close to the water, if you’re going to do any kind of construction, you have to get a permit.”
Winkelman said Hawaii Gas is in the process of pursuing the property, but no deal has been made and even if it was made today, it would still be several years before anything developed on the property that is owned by the Harbor Division and the state of Hawaii.
“We have not actually acquired the property or got the lease from the state yet,” Winkelman said.
Ramos likes the fact that the new facility will have protection from the rain, unlike the current facility, which is great, but he did have one other concern.
“They’re blessing the place on Wednesday, but we’re not invited,” Ramos said.
The new HI5 redemption center will be open to the public daily except Wednesdays and Sundays. It accepts all HI5 products and also will have a buy-back for aluminum, copper, brass, and stainless steel scrap metals.
Reynold’s other location in Kapahi, 5675 Kawaihau Road, will continue to operate as usual.
“We would like to thank the Harbor Division,” Bruce Iverson, director of marketing and development with Reynold’s Recycling said. “We’re thankful for all they have done. The new facility is beautiful and we look forward to serving the community in the new location.”
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Ryan Collins, county reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or rcollins@thegardenisland.com.
