November 15th is Hawai‘i Recycles Day!

The Hawai‘i County Council passed Resolution 379-07 establishing an annual Hawai‘i Recycles Day on November 15th.  This coincides with America Recycles Day, an annual national campaign to encourage Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. Recycling saves natural resources, lessens energy consumption and reduces global warming.  It also helps to promote litter free beaches and parks and creates jobs.

Here are some basic steps to get started recycling:

1. Visit the Hawai‘i Zero Waste Tip webpage (Tips).  Find simple & easy to do things to increase recycling in your community.
2. Use the easy 2-Bin recycling system at your nearest Recycling & Transfer Station.   Sort household recyclables into your recycling containers at home.  Sort non-HI-5 glass in one bin and mixed recyclables such as most types of paper; cardboard; #1, #2 and #5 plastics; and non-HI-5 aluminum and tin cans (rinse clean) into another bin. Take your recyclables to the 2-Bin recycling roll-offs at Recycling & Transfer Stations.
3. Compost household greenwaste or take it to the collection sites at the Recycling & Transfer Stations in Hilo, Kea‘au, Pāhoa, Kealakehe (Kailua-Kona) or the West Hawai‘i Organics Facility in Pu‘uanahulu. Backyard composting is easy and there are year-round workshops to help you get started.  The greenwaste at the East and West Hawai‘i Organics Facilities is ground into mulch and is free for the public to pick up.
4. Take Household Hazardous Waste to the next collection event in your area.   Collection days happen twice a year in Hilo and Kona and once a year in Pāhoa and Waimea.  The collected waste is packed and shipped to a processing facility for safe and environmentally friendly treatment or disposal.  The next HHW events are scheduled for the first Saturday in December in Hilo at the Hilo Recycling & Transfer Station and the second Saturday in December at the Kealakehe (Kailua-Kona) Recycling & Transfer Station.
5. Purchase products made from recycled materials.  Close the loop.
6. Reduce waste by buying products with less packaging or recyclable packaging.
7. Reuse items and donate items that still have life to a charity thrift shop or a Reuse Center.