09/29/06 Weekly Report: Diverting Greenwaste from the Landfills;Parks and Recreation Unveils Reduced Golf Fees at Makalei, Waikoloa Village

Let’s start with why it’s not so good to put greenwaste (all your grass, garden or orchard clippings, branches, etc.) and food scraps in the transfer station trailers.

1. If you dispose in the transfer station trailers, all of it goes to a landfill.

2. Greenwaste takes a lot of precious space in our landfills -- by last count, around 10% weight, and since it’s not very dense, more by volume.

The County’s Department of Environmental Management is working to divert as much of our community’s greenwaste from the landfill as possible.

What are the goals of the Greenwaste Program in general?

· To maintain compliance with Department of Health regulations.

· Reduce costs associated with landfilling.

· Protect existing air space in the island’s landfills by diverting traditional greenwaste while also diverting other acceptable organic materials including clean pallets, biosolids, used cooking oil and grease trap waste.

· Provide an incentive to separate acceptable organics from mixed solid waste loads.

· Promote value-added local businesses such as ones making mulch and compost produced here on Hawai`i Island.

Definitions of Mulch vs. Compost

MULCH is produced by grinding raw greenwaste.

COMPOST is the end product of a complex feeding pattern involving hundreds of different organisms, including bacteria, fungi, worms, and insects. What remains after these organisms break down organic materials is the rich, earthy substance your garden will love. Composting replicates nature's natural system of breaking down materials on the forest floor. In every forest, grassland, jungle, and garden, plants die, fall to the ground, and decay. They are slowly dismantled by the small organisms living in the soil. Eventually these plant parts disappear into the brown crumbly forest floor. This humus keeps the soil light and fluffy and humus is our goal when we start composting.

Also, unprocessed greenwaste is generally not used as fuel stock for incinerators and other types of waste-to-energy technologies as it is mostly water and must be processed first for that type of use. When used in a waste-to-energy application, there is no resultant value-added product such as certified compost or biodiesel.

Meanwhile, mulch piles and safety risks, labor costs

The Department of Environmental Management wants to reduce fire risks and labor costs to the County relating to managing mulch piles in areas of the island where there is insufficient demand for mulch. There is insufficient demand for the current mulch product in Kona and mulch is often stockpiled as a result.

Real issues concerning the current greenwaste program

Given the incoming quantities, there is insufficient space at the present West Hawai`i location at Kealakehe Transfer Station to safely process (grind) into mulch or to further process to produce compost. Additionally, the site is difficult for the public to access given traffic congestion in the greater Kailua-Kona area.

The current Department of Health (DOH) permits require that the stockpiles of both unprocessed greenwaste and shredded greenwaste (mulch) be maintained at specified heights and quantities to mitigate fire and environmental hazards. The stockpiles are now reduced to within compliance with DOH permits, which has involved great effort and extra expense. At the Kona site, incoming quantities generally exceed outgoing quantities of the mulch.

Composting is a higher value product than mulch but composting is not possible at the present East Hawai`i site due to excessive rainfall. The demand for the mulch in East Hawai`i currently matches the output of shredded greenwaste (mulch).

Greenwaste continues to be a significant portion of the Solid Waste stream and the law specifies that approximately 65-70% of greenwaste generated for disposal on this island cannot enter our landfills.

The County’s Solid Waste Division aims to eventually produce a certified compost from mulch which will:

Reduce shipping of imported compost, providing space for other commodities.
Provide landscapers with a reduced cost, quality product to take with them, after they have dropped unprocessed organics and greenwaste.
Reduce risks of spreading unwanted pests (coqui), pathogens and weed species.
Alleviate health issues stemming from dust and foul odors.
Add approximately 15 new jobs.

Reasons to expand Greenwaste Processing to Composting

More than 30% of our landfilled waste is characterized as organic. Of that, approximately 50% is food waste and 28% is clean (untreated) lumber waste.

Mulch – brown gold to turn things green

In the last fiscal year that ended June 30, 2006, the total amount of greenwaste mulched was 48,290.33 tons, up 41% from year before. Note: this was raw mulch, not compost.

What are the payoffs?

Currently, the average cost of landfilling is $86 per ton. The average cost of landfilling, after collection from a Transfer Station, is $113 per ton.

While the costs to handle solid waste have risen over the years, mulching of greenwaste has varied from a low of $31.69/ton to a high of $36.58/ton. We are presently paying $35.50/ton.

For further information, please contact the Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division at 961-8515 or the County Recycling Division at 961-8942.

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Parks and Recreation Unveils Reduced Golf Fees at Makalei, Waikoloa Village

The Department of Parks and Recreation has announced special golf rates available to all Hawai`i Island residents. Two West Hawai`i courses, Makalei Golf Club and Waikoloa Village Golf Course, were awarded contracts by the County of Hawai`i to provide $25.00 rounds of golf for Hawai`i Island residents.

This cost per round includes a shared cart.

The County operates Hilo Municipal Golf Course and has tried unsuccessfully to develop a West Hawai`i golf course at Kealakehe. In its effort to provide reasonable golf rates for West Hawai`i residents, this new demonstration project is designed to provide golfers with a subsidy towards their rounds of golf from now until June 30, 2007.

A Hawai`i Island resident may now book a tee time and play at Makalei Golf Club or Waikoloa Village Golf Course for $25.00 (shared cart included) with no restrictions. This fee is available for any day and all tee times.

For further information, please contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 961-8311.

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COUNTY BULLETIN BOARD

County Council, County Clerk to Move to Ben Franklin Bldg from Oct 10

To make way for renovation of the Hawai‘i County Building, the Offices of the County Council and County Clerk will relocate to 333 Kilauea Avenue (Ben Franklin Building, Second Floor) in Hilo on October 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2006.

Every effort is being made to retain the same telephone and fax numbers and e mail addresses for Council members, the County Clerk, and their staff. We ask for your patience and understanding during our relocation and transition to our new work site.

The first County Council meeting at our new address will be held on Monday, October 16th, 2006, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Videoconferencing will be available between the Waimea and Kona Council Offices.

We invite you to attend and participate in the formulation of legislation and public policy for Hawai‘i County.

For further information, please contact the County Clerk’s Office at 961-8255.

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Illegal Dwelling Amnesty Ordinances Approved; Grace Period Starts Oct 1

The following announcement was issued by Department of Public Works Director Bruce McClure.

Three ordinances granting amnesty for illegal dwellings will become law on October 1, 2006. Ordinance 311 relates to the Building Code, Ordinance 312 relates to the Plumbing Code and Ordinance 313 relating to the Electrical Code.

How does amnesty work in this case?

For those unfamiliar with amnesty, this is how it works. Owners of homes or farm buildings completed prior to January 1, 2006 that did not receive proper authorization to build these structures, and who wish to legalize their structures, have a year starting October 1, 2006 to file the proper forms with the County.

If in doubt…

If you are unsure of whether you should participate in the amnesty process, please keep in mind the following:

· Building, Plumbing and Electrical Permits are required for all building construction work, including renovations, additions, sheds, garages, patios, animal kennels and antennas more than six (6) feet high.

· Building construction requires a review and stamp of approval by a licensed professional structural engineer or architect.

· All plumbing and electrical work requires a permit by a licensed plumber or electrician, respectively.

What does the permit process entail?

The permit process includes working with not just the Building division of Public Works, where plans and applications are reviewed and electrical and plumbing permits are issued. The permit process also involves working with the Engineering division of Public Works, the Planning Department, the State Department of Health for a septic system or the County Department of Environmental Management for a sewer hookup.

How long does it normally take to go through the permit process?

The average timeframe for processing applications and receiving approvals from all departments is between four to six weeks.

Taking advantage of this opportunity to avoid penalties

Building owners must secure the proper permits, and comply with all building, electrical and plumbing codes, and would be exempt from any penalties and pay only the existing $20 per 100 square feet of floor space, plus any other pertinent fees for private garages, carports, sheds and agricultural buildings, fences more than six (6) feet high, tanks and towers.

What penalties could result if a person fails to take advantage of the amnesty during the one-year grace period?

Penalties would be the doubling of the calculated fee for the respective permit. For example, a building permit fee of $600 would be doubled, for a total of $1,200 including penalty fee. Plumbing and electrical fee penalties would be additional.

Another incentive to take advantage of the amnesty: when you wish to sell your house

Realtors ask the seller if the structure has all necessary permits, and will disclose their findings to the prospective buyer. It obviously pays to have all your permits in order in the event you wish to sell your house.

Get a building permit worksheet to guide you through the process

A building permit worksheet is available on-line at the County of Hawaii’s website,

co.hawaii.hi.us . Click on the Departments page; go to Public Works and click on Building. Owners may complete this form and bring it, along with their building plans, to either the Kona or Hilo office.

You can also obtain an informational booklet online

The County Department of Public Works has an informational booklet, “How to Obtain a Building Permit,” which is also on-line. It explains the process and a varying fee structure for residential buildings.

Where should I start the permit process?

Forms can be taken to either the County Building division of Public Works in Hilo at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street or in Kona to the County’s Hanama Place office.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both offices are closed weekends and holidays.

For additional information, please contact Bruce C. McClure, P.E., Director of the Department of Public Works, at (808) 961-8321, or Noelani Whittington, Community Outreach, (808) 557-6437.

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Puna Community Development Plan – Next Workshop Sept 30

What did the more than 150 attendees of the first region-wide workshop say when asked, “Why do you live in Puna? What is unique about your community? What top three issues do you feel are of highest importance to be addressed by the Puna Community Development Plan (CDP)?” How do their responses differ from those received during the small group meetings that were held earlier this year? What similarities and differences exist, depending on where people live in the district? Come to the second regional workshop and find out.

The second workshop will be held on Saturday, September 30, at the Pahoa High School Cafeteria. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the workshop starting at 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

There will be presentations showing what Puna is likely to look like in the next 5 – 30 years, if current trends continue. Find out about growth management tools that are being considered by the Puna CDP. During the latter part of the workshop, Working Groups will begin forming and organizing around topics of special interest. Find out more about Working Groups and how these groups can effectively contribute to the Puna CDP. Together we will steer the course.

For more information, please go to the website www.hawaiiislandplan.com . If you have questions, please email us at puna@hawaiiislandplan.com or call Debbie Chang at 961-8288 or Alex Frost at 961-8012.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the meeting, please contact the Planning Department at 961-8288 at least six (6) days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

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Keei Transfer Station Nighttime Gate Closure from October 2

The Department of Environmental Management wishes to inform the community that the gate at Keei Transfer Station in Napoopoo will be closed at night beginning Monday October 2, 2006. The transfer station at Keei will be open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Nighttime gate closure is needed for several reasons. Appropriate operations of the facility are not possible without a secured location and our health permit requires that the site is used only for disposal of household rubbish. Commercial use has been discovered at the site, hampering cleanliness and scheduling of equipment so the site is available for household users. The gating will help deter illegal commercial use and promote cleanliness at this site.

The transfer stations were designed and built to provide a convenient means for residents to dispose of their household rubbish only. Commercial use of the transfer stations is illegal and places a significant burden on all tax payers. It requires significantly more County labor and equipment to maintain these facilities when commercial entities disregard the law.

We request your help in maintaining the cleanliness of our transfer stations. Your cooperation will ensure that your local transfer station remains a practical and convenient means of disposing of your household rubbish.

The Department of Environmental Management staff is working with residents who use the transfer stations to assure that we are meeting the needs of the community. Please be assured that your questions and concerns are welcome. They can be directed to the Solid Waste Division at 961-8058.

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County Seeks Information on Potentially Contaminated Sites for Cleanup

Do you know of property on the Big Island that may be contaminated by hazardous substances or pollutants, but may have strong redevelopment potential? The County of Hawai’i wants to hear from you.

The Department of Environmental Management is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and property owners to identify and evaluate these potentially contaminated sites. This is not an environmental enforcement effort, but an opportunity to begin the process of cleaning up.

The intent of this project is first to identify all of the sites in the County. The next step is to select about five sites that have the best potential for redevelopment and evaluate their level of potential contamination.

There will be a preliminary evaluation (a phase one site assessment) of these five sites. The sites will then be reduced to three for a complete evaluation (phase two site assessment) that will include soil sampling.

These two assessments are necessary in order to begin the process of cleaning and redeveloping these sites.

It will provide potential users/developers with the information necessary to determine if redevelopment is appropriate now.

Additionally, completion of the site assessments is necessary to be eligible for federal cleanup grants and loans. The intent of the program is to encourage redevelopment of existing sites as a viable alternative to developing raw land.

One longer-range goal of this project is to develop a large inventory of properties, with substantial redevelopment potential, that we can work from for years to come.

While we will work towards a completed re-development of the most promising sites in the near-term, there will also be sites that are discovered through this process that have great potential in the future.

If you have any information about such sites, please contact Terin Gloor of the Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division at 961-8058. Thank you for your kokua in making the Island of Hawai`i an even nicer place to live.

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Planning Dept to hold Kapoho Subsidence Study Meeting Oct 19

Is Kapoho subsiding? The County of Hawai`i’s Planning Department invites the community to a meeting on findings and preliminary recommendations from its study of subsidence in Kapoho.

WHEN: Thursday, October 19, 2006, 4:30 pm-6:30 pm

WHERE; Pahoa High School Cafeteria, 15-3038 Puna Road

Dr. Benjamin Brooks will present the findings from his analysis of more than three years of satellite GPS data.

Consultant Dennis Hwang will share his preliminary recommendations for shoreline determination and development in the Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland-Hawaii subdivisions.

This is your opportunity to provide input and comment on the findings and initial recommendations prior to completion of the draft report, which is due in November.

NOTE: If you require an accommodation or auxiliary aid and/or services to participate in this meeting, (i.e., sign language interpreter, large print, etc.) please call Larry Brown at 961-8288, ext. 258.

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County Elections Division Seeking Election Day Officials

The Elections Division is currently seeking individuals who are interested in serving as Election Day Officials for the Primary and General Election.

However, we are experiencing difficulty in staffing precincts islandwide, especially in the districts of:

North / South Kona
North / South Kohala
Ka`u
Puna
Hamakua

***The County of Hawaii Elections Division is short of Delivery/Collection Team members for the Kona districts. Delivery/Collection Team officials deliver ballots to and from the polling places while ensuring their security. Collection Delivery Times: Approximately two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. You can earn between $60 - $90 each Election Day worked.

For information contact the Elections Division at 961-8277.

We are seeking individuals to serve as Precinct Chairpersons, Voter Assistance Officials and Precinct Officials. Please see the attached Fact Sheet on Precinct Officials for information on the qualifications, duties and stipend.

The Elections Division will provide the necessary training.

We are appealing to the citizens in the community to volunteer as Election Day Officials, so that the voters in Hawaii can have a pleasant experience at the polls.

Interested individuals may contact the Elections Division at 959-5126.

Serve as an Election Official – It’s fun and rewarding

Assisting your neighbors and fellow citizens to vote is a fun, challenging and rewarding experience. This is your opportunity to volunteer your services to the community, and at the same time gain first-hand knowledge and experience in the electoral process.

Need a fundraiser?

This is an excellent opportunity for your nonprofit organization. Not only does your organization earn money, you are getting involved and participating in the electoral process. Requirements to participate are:

Each participant must meet the minimum qualifications.
Each organization shall not be a political action committee or organized for a political purpose.
A completed Tax Clearance Application for each organization.
A signed Memorandum of Agreement for each organization.
A completed recruitment worksheet for each organization.

When are the elections?

General Election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006

How long will I be working?

The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., however precinct officials start at 5:30 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.

What are the Minimum Qualifications?

Each precinct official must meet all of the following requirements:

Be 16 years old on or before June 30, 2006.
Be a registered voter in the State of Hawaii.
Able to read (i.e., 11 point font) and write English.
Able to lift 25-35 pounds.
Attend a training session and pass a certification exam.

Restrictions

No parent, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary as defined in HRS Chapter 572C, child, or sibling of a candidate may serve as a precinct official in any precinct where votes may be cast for the candidate.

No candidate for elective office may serve as a precinct official in the same election in which the person is a candidate.

No candidate who failed to be nominated in the primary or special primary election may serve as a precinct official in the following general election.

What will I be doing?

Each polling place consists of a Chairperson, Voter Assistance Official(s) (VAOs), and Precinct Officials (POs).

Precinct Chairperson’s Responsibilities and Duties:

Manages the polling place and is responsible for the security and integrity of ballots issued and votes cast.
Assists voters and administers special procedures such as spoiled ballots, mail-absentee ballots, voter registration update, curbside voting, language assistance.
Organizes and supervises precinct officials and voter activity.
Ensures that all election procedures are correctly followed.
Receives the Supply Box before each election.
Maintains inventory and control of all election materials.
Completes all Election Day documents correctly.

What are the general qualifications for a Chairperson?

The Chairperson shall be the first named precinct official on the list prepared by the chief election officer.

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Experience in at least two (2) elections is desirable.
Experience as a Voter Assistance Official is desirable.
Meets all other minimum qualifications.

What are the responsibilities and duties of the voter assistance official (VAO)?

Assists the Chairperson in managing the polling place.
Operates the Voter Assistance Station.
Assists voters and administers special procedures such as spoiled ballots, mail-absentee ballots, voter registration update, curbside voting, language assistance.
Assists the Chairperson in completing all Election Day documents.
Assists the Chairperson with miscellaneous duties.

General qualifications for a voter assistance official

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Experience in at least one (1) election is desirable.
Meets all minimum qualifications.

What are the responsibilities and duties of the precinct official (PO)?

Operates the following stations at the polling place:

1. Information and Ballot Demonstration Station

2. Poll Book Station

3. Ballot Issuing Station

4. Ballot Box Station

Assists voters with Election Day questions.
Assists the Chairperson and/or Voter Assistance Official (VAO) with miscellaneous duties.

General qualifications for a precinct official

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Meets all minimum qualifications).

Standby Precinct Official

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Reports to Election Headquarters on election morning for dispatch to a polling place that requires additional staffing.
Personal transportation required.
Responsible for precinct official duties.
If polling places do not require additional staffing, the Standby Official will still be compensated the full rate.
Meets all minimum qualifications

Alternate

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Stands-by at home on election morning for dispatch to a polling place that requires additional staffing.
May be contacted prior to Election Day to replace a precinct official that is unable to work.
Responsible for precinct official duties.
If the Alternate is contacted and works in a polling place on Election Day, he/she will be compensated at the same rate as a Precinct Official.
If polling places do not require additional staffing, the Alternate will be compensated $5.
If the Alternate is contacted to work but declines, he/she will not be compensated.
Must meet all minimum qualifications.

Note: Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes §11-72, all qualified political parties shall submit names to the Chief Election Officer by a statutory deadline. The recruitment deadline for the 2006 Elections was May 26, 2006, 4:30 p.m.

Precinct officials recruited by their respective political party and submitted to the Office of Elections by the statutory deadline have first priority when being assigned to a specific polling place. You are encouraged to call the political party of your choice to volunteer your services as a precinct official.

In the event that all positions are not filled by the political party recruitment deadline, HRS §11-72 gives the Chief Election Officer the authority to fill the vacancies with any qualified person, without regard to political party affiliation.

Mail outs to the past elections’ precinct officials, public service announcements, and presentations by election staff ensure the required number of precinct officials to fully staff the polling places on Election Day.

How will I know what to do on Election Day?

Everyone is required to attend at least one training session and pass a certification exam. Precinct officials will be instructed in the standard operating procedures for each station within the polling place.

The chairperson of the polling place will assign precinct officials to their workstation. Precinct officials rotate through all the stations during the course of the day and perform additional duties that may be required.

When is training?

Training sessions are held between June and November. The Precinct Operations staff will schedule you to attend a convenient training session in your area.

Where will I work?

State Law requires precinct officials to work in the precinct in which they vote. However, if no vacancy exists within your precinct, you will be placed in a precinct within your district. If no vacancy exists within your district, you will be placed in a neighboring district. The earlier you volunteer to work, the better your chances for working close to home.

Will I be paid?

Yes, the compensation rates for each election worked for the 2006 Elections are:

Chairperson – Rates are based on the unit size of the polling place. The unit size is based on the registered voter count in each precinct.

• for one-unit precinct	$85
• for two-unit precinct	$100
• for three-unit precinct	$115
• for four-unit precinct	$130
• for five-unit precinct	$145
Voter Assistance Official	$80
Precinct Official	$75
Standby Precinct Official	$75
Alternate	$5

Every vote counts and so does your help!

Contact the Precinct Operations Section for more information at 1-800-442-VOTE (8683) or 1-800-345-5915, TTY: 808-453-6150.

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Don’t Forget to Vote in General Elections November 7

The General Election takes place on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. Please exercise your right to vote by casting your ballot.

You may cast your vote either by absentee mail ballot, absentee walk-in voting, or by voting on Primary day at your designated polling place. Registered voters in Hawai`i County will have received a yellow postcard from the Elections Division informing them of the location of their designated polling place.

If you need information about your designated polling place or have any questions, please contact the Hawai`i County Elections Office at 961-8277.

***The Elections Division wishes to remind voters that the Hilo Elections Office has moved to Prince Kuhio Plaza, across from the former Dottie’s restaurant. It had formerly been located on the ground floor of the old County building at 25 Aupuni Street.

The Hawai`i County Elections Division is accepting applications for absentee mail ballots for the 2006 General Elections. The deadline to request an absentee mail ballot for the General Election is 4:30 p.m. on October 31, 2006.

Applications for an absentee mail ballot can be obtained from the Elections Division at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo or by downloading it at www.co.hawaii.hi.us/elections .

Absentee Walk-in Voting:

General Election Absentee Walk-In Voting begins on October 24 - November 4, 2006.

Hours of operation and venues are as follows:

Elections Division - Prince Kuhio Plaza 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday

Kona Mayors Offc Conf Rm,Hanama Pl. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

Waimea Community Center 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday

North Kohala Courthouse 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Pahala Community Center 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Please exercise your right as a U.S. citizen. Register to vote and cast your ballot in the primary and general elections. Your vote counts!

For further information, please contact the Hawai`i County Elections Office at 961-8277.

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Corps of Engineers Awards Pa’auau Stream Flood Control Repair Contract

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District has awarded a contract of $522,325 to Niking Corporation of Pearl City, Oahu on September 15, 2006 for the Pa’auau Stream Flood Control Repair at Pahala, on the Island of Hawaii. Pa’auau Stream is located in the Pahala area of Ka`u.

A January 2004 storm caused erosion damage at various places along the stream slope and within the lava-lined stream bed.

This project consists of repairing damaged stream slope and boulder slopes and the removal of boulders and sediment in selected areas of the Pa’auau Stream Flood Control Project, to mitigate additional damage to the structures from future flood events.

The Hawaii County Department of Public Works is the local agency which maintains and operates the project.

Pending the securing of necessary permits, the earliest anticipated construction start date is November 2006.

For further information, please contact the Department of Public Works at 961-xxxx.

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Recycling Drop-offs: Update

Due to a temporary transition in our recycler’s processing facility, the following Transfer Stations will be affected:

· Hawi

· Honokaa

· Keauhou

· Laupahoehoe

· Pahala

· Pahoa

· Puako

· Waimea

We WILL NOT be accepting the following recyclable materials in the mixed recycling bins ONLY.

NO Paperboard or boxboard (cereal or tea boxes, snack food boxes, etc.)

NO Plastics #1&2 (milk jugs, detergent and bleach bottles, etc.)

NO Metal cans (tuna and cat food cans, soup cans, etc.)

These materials can be taken to the Kealakehe, Hilo or the Kea‘au Transfer Stations. We will let you know if and when other sites become available.

Still accepted in the mixed recycling bins are:

YES for Newspapers and magazines

YES for Cardboard (flattened)

YES for Mixed office paper (No Brites) and

YES for Phonebooks

This is a temporary change until January 2007. Look for signage at your Transfer Station. Thank you for your kokua. For more information, please call 961-8554 or 961-8942.

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County Seeks Cost of Government Commission Member for District 8

Hawai`i County is currently recruiting a citizen volunteer to serve as commissioner to represent District 8 (Council member Angel Pilago's district) on the Cost of Government Commission.

The Commission serves for a period of 11 months only, and is empaneled one year after the Mayor is elected into office.

Their mission is to study and investigate present operations within the County of Hawai`i, and make recommendations to the Mayor and Hawai`i County Council on how improvements in County government may be made.

For further information, please contact Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida at 961-8251. Completed applications can be dropped off or mailed to Lincoln Ashida at the Office of the Corporation Counsel at the Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325, Hilo, HI 96720.

Application forms may be picked up in Hilo at the Office of Information and Complaints at Room 217, 25 Aupuni Street and in Kona at the Kona Mayor's Office at Hanama Place, Kailua-Kona. You may also find an application form on line at www.co.hawaii.hi.us .

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Environmental Management Commission Seeks Applicants for District 3

The Environmental Management Commission will have a vacancy for a commissioner to represent District 3 in Hilo (currently Council member James Arakaki’s district) from January 2007.

Community-minded residents are encouraged to apply for this vacancy.

Members of the Environmental Management Commission advise the Department of Environmental Management on waste reduction strategies, recycling, litter control, community involvement, and other issues related to the functions of the department.

Under the Hawaii County Charter, appointments to the commission are made by the Mayor with Council approval. Commissioners serve 5-year staggered terms.

The commission is made up of nine members, each representing one of the nine Council districts.

To obtain an application, please contact the Office of Information and Complaints, Mayor's Office, Room 217, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo. Phone: 961-8223 or at the Kona Mayor's Office, Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona. Phone: 329-5226.

For further information about the Environmental Management Commission, please contact the Department of Environmental Management at 961-8083.

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Redemption Centers – Hours of Operation

The following is a primer on the State of Hawai`i's beverage container redemption program works, and the location of the County of Hawai’i’s beverage container redemption sites:

Qualifying Beverage Containers:

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include: soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and low alcohol content drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass or #1&#2 plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include: milk, wine and liquor containers.

Reminder: ONLY eligible HI5¢ labeled containers can be redeemed.

Qualified beverage containers may be redeemed for cash at the following locations:

**Transfer Station centers closed daily from 1:00-1:30pm for lunch.**

CURRENTLY OPEN	DAYS/HOURS OF OPERATION	OPERATOR

Hawi Transfer Station**	Saturday only: 8 am-4:30 pm.	ARC of Hilo
(Open Saturday only)	(closed for lunch 1:00-1:30)

Hilo, 30 Maka’ala Street	Mon thru Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm	Atlas Recycling
(Old industrial area)	Sat & Sun: 8:00am-3:00pm

Hilo Transfer Station**	M, W, F: 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Closed Tues & Thurs)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm
Honoka`a Transfer Station (Weekends only)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30	ARC of Hilo
Kailua-Kona, Pawai Place	Mon thru Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm	Atlas Recycling
(Old industrial area)	Sat 8:00am-3:00pm
	Sun Closed

Kea’au Transfer Station**	M, W, F: 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Closed Tues & Thurs)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm

Kealakehe Transfer Station**	M, W, F: 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Closed Tues & Thurs)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm

Keauhou Transfer Station**	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Weekends only)

Pahoa Transfer Station**	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm