Posts: 468
Threads: 46
Joined: Jan 2009
The County recycling rules change on December 1. No longer will yogurt cups and margarine tubs and the like be accepted for recycling. This is due to the fact that China no longer wants our trash for recycling. The County has a hard time finding places willing to accept our recycling. In general very few items are eligible for recycling here. What is put in the bins is hand sorted by workers paid by the County then shipped off to be recycled. The more “trash” that is placed in those bins, the more it costs all of us to pick it out. Please read these recycling rules and follow along.
http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/2-bin “Wishful recycling” costs us all.
Posts: 468
Threads: 46
Joined: Jan 2009
To make it simple, the only plastic that will be recycled after December 1 (other than HI-5) are clean #1 or #2 food or laundry bottles, jars, or containers. That’s it! No plastic bags, no plastic toys, NO OTHER PLASTIC. If you’ve ever looked in one of the drop off bins, you know this message has not gotten across to the general public. Please spread the word.
Posts: 14,113
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
County has a hard time finding places willing to accept our recycling
We could process that plastic to make recycled goods for local use: plant pots, plastic sheeting, etc. Generate the heat with a solar mirror array instead of HELCO power.
Hobbyists are already melting plastic to make feedstock for 3D printers, using simple double boilers on a stovetop. It's really not rocket science.
Don't whine about how "a manufacturing plant would be expensive", closing the Hilo landfill will cost $20M.
