Question: The city no longer accepts “household combustibles” at the landfill. Does this change what residential customers are allowed to put in their bins on the three-bin automated routes, or what they are allowed to put at the street curb for bulky pickup?
Answer: No to both questions. Residential customers may use their rubbish, recycling and green-waste bins as usual, as well as the curbside (for bulky pickup), said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city’s Department of Environmental Services.
The new policy that took effect March 20 simply means that residential customers who try to drop off combustible refuse at the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill will be turned away and redirected to the nearest drop-off convenience center or transfer station.
With this change, more of Oahu’s trash, including bulky waste, will be processed for burning at the city’s HPOWER waste-to-energy plant in Campbell Industrial Park, generating electricity and reducing disposal at the landfill.
Owens explained that “household combustibles” include anything that is burnable (regular garbage in bags, wood, tables, chairs, sofas, love seats, recliners, etc.), with the exception of “inert” materials such as concrete, asphalt, rocks, dirt, sand and gravel.
Under the new policy, household customers may continue to dispose of small quantities of inert materials at Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill. However, they are limited to two loads per day and a maximum of four loads per week, transported in sedans, pickup trucks or minivans.
Larger household vehicles, and all those with commercial license plates, are directed to the private PVT Land Co. Ltd. landfill in Nanakuli. Anyone hauling construction and demolition debris is directed there as well, according to the city.
Q: How much did it cost to fix those toilets vandals hit on the North Shore? How will they stop it from happening again?
A: It cost about $337,000 to rebuild the comfort station at Kaiaka Bay Beach Park, which reopened March 24, according to the city. It was burned down in January 2014, and arsonists also twice destroyed portable toilets placed at the Haleiwa site in the aftermath. The new comfort station includes surveillance cameras, security gates and other features designed to deter crime. The city asks anyone who spots suspicious activity there to call the police.
Hunting survey
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources wants hunters to weigh in about hunting on public lands. The department will use the results to improve game management in state public hunting areas, which encompass more than a million acres of state land, where 16 bird species and six mammal species can be hunted.
Although the online survey is aimed at hunting enthusiasts, it is not limited to them. To fill it out, go to 808ne.ws/huntquest, scroll down the right side under the header “Hunting Information” and click on the word “Survey.”
Auwe
Our state shuns the lottery yet we have illegal gambling! Most of us in our town know about it. It’s in plain sight, not in a dark alley. Go figure. — No name
Mahalo
I was leaving Home Depot on Thursday when I saw an older man struggling to load his purchases into his car. Two guys in a pickup drove up. One guy got out. He was wearing a military uniform. He went right to the man and helped him pack all that stuff in the car. The older guy looked befuddled, like “Why did I deserve this good luck?” The soldier brushed it off like he was doing his good deed for the day. I rolled down my car window and yelled out, “Hey, I saw that!” The soldier looked puzzled. I gave him the snappiest salute I could muster. He understood and gave me a shaka sign. Mahalo to this soldier. Thanks for taking care of our kupuna. — A reader
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
