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We already know that we can reduce waste on our
island by practicing the 3R's -- reduce, reuse and recycle.
But what can we do about garbage that has not been disposed
of properly? What can we do to reduce litter in Hawaii?
And how does it get there in the first place?
The following story, written by someone who lives and breathes
garbage (and will proudly admit it), sheds some light on
the unsightly subject of litter. In addition to fullfilling
her professional duties as the City's Recycling Coordinator,
Suzanne Jones also keeps a vigilant eye out for commercial
litterbugs on her commute to and from work.
Or maybe you're just interested in learning more about
Hawaii's litter laws. How exactly does the state define
"litter"? What penalties do you face if you get
caught tossing your empty water bottle onto the street?
We'll save you the embarassment of having the judge tell
you. Click here for information on Hawaii's
litter laws.
Feeling inspired? Want to get involved in clearing the
litter off Hawaii's beaches and streets and out of its streams?
Click here for information on how to get
involved.
The Problem With Litter
A crew of more than 50 volunteers from five refuse hauling
companies, Waste Management who runs our landfill, and City
Refuse Division employees, were out cleaning up the highway
from Kunia to the landfill on Saturday, September 28. They
filled more than 300 bags with litter picked up along the
six-mile stretch. Now, as I drive the highway not a week
later, it's back... more litter... new stuff.
This coalition of haulers is committed to get their folks
out there four times a year to cleanup. But it's probably
not going to be enough unless the community helps, too.
Even as the volunteers were cleaning the road on Saturday,
a car drove by and someone tossed a plastic beverage container
out the window. And who can explain the old toilet along
the side of road?
As you walk the highway picking up this and that, you start
guessing at how it all got there -- plastic bags, beverage
containers of all kinds, cups, pieces of cardboard boxes,
big and small scraps of paper -- and pretty soon you've
formulated some ideas about how people could help minimize
the problem.
I'm not sure what to say to those people who toss containers
and cups out their car windows. Stop it! The nickel deposit
on beverage containers starting in 2005 will help reduce
this behavior significantly, but until then, just stop it.
Much of the litter probably blows out from
the backs of trucks with the drivers not being aware. Don't
throw loose items into the truck bed. Keep your loads covered
and secured. This goes for big trucks as well as smaller
personal trucks.
There is no charge to householders for disposal at any
of the City's facilities. That old toilet, the car batteries
and the tires could have been taken to the landfill or a
neighborhood refuse convenience center (Ewa, Waianae and
Waipahu) just as easily as dumping them on the roadside.
If we want our island home to stay beautiful, we've all
got to take care of garbage.
Click on the following link for the press
release about this event and to view more photos.
HAWAII'S LITTER LAWS
Here are the basics about littering and the law in Hawaii.
Most of you will probably satisfy your thirst for litter
knowledge with these links.
- Criminal littering. What
is it? What happens if I get caught?
- Littering from a vehicle. Are the penalties any different
from criminal littering? Click
here to find out.
- Spilling loads on highways. What happens if something
flies out of the bed of my truck? Does the law mandate
that I secure my load? Click
here to learn more.
For someone awfully interested in Hawaii's litter
laws, feel free to venture to the linked Hawaii Revised
Statutes below. Use your Internet browser's back button
to return to this page.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- For more information on how to volunteer for a stream
clean up, storm drain stenciling or to Adopt-A-Stream
or Adopt-A-Block, please
visit the website for City
and County of Honolulu's Clean Water Program and
click on "How You Can Help."
- For more information on the state Department of Transportation's
Adopt-A-Highway program, please call 831-6792.
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