CITY FORMS COALITION TO CLEAN UP HIGHWAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2002

Mayor Jeremy Harris announced today that a coalition of island refuse companies has been formed to clean up litter along the six-mile stretch of highway from Kunia Road to the landfill.

Cleanup crews and volunteers from all of the participating haulers and the City's Refuse Division will be out on the road on Saturday, September 28, from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. for a clean sweep to kick off the new partnership. The refuse haulers have committed to continue to clean up the highway throughout the year. "This is another great example of a public/private partnership to keep our highways and environment clean," said Mayor Harris.

Litter along this section of highway seems greater than on other roadways. High truck traffic, combined with limited state resources for maintaining the roads, may be the source of the problem. No other organization or company has stepped forward to adopt this portion of the highway.

Rolloffs Hawaii was the first to come on board and their employees have already participated in two cleanups this year. "Once we committed to this project, our employees, many of whom live in the Leeward area, readily donated their time," said Linda Henriques, company Vice-President. "Our trucks and drivers are on this roadway daily. We know the problem, and it was an opportunity to be part of the solution."

Mike O'Brien, general manager for Horizon Waste, jumped at the chance to be involved and asked if they could have the worst section of roadway. "We're part of this community," said O'Brien. "Our company is based out here in Campbell Industrial Park, and many of our workers and their families live in the surrounding area. This is an opportunity to actively demonstrate our corporate responsibility to the environment and our neighbors."

Island Demo's trucks haul material to the construction and demolition landfill in Nanakuli. Mike Leary, owner and president, didn't think twice before he said, "Count us in. We'll do the whole highway if you want." Island Demo's mission statement revolves around a commitment to increase recycling and decrease waste for the construction and demolition industry. "Cleaning up litter is a natural extension of our beliefs."

NCNS and Pacific Waste (GMI) round out the coalition of haulers. Nick Wong, president of NCNS, and Kris Gourlay, general manager for GMI, called the invitation to join the haulers' litter cleanup coalition a welcome opportunity. Both noted that their resources didn't compare to the larger hauling companies, but their commitment to this project would match the big guys.

Waste Management, operator of the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, is the only member of the group who is committed to daily litter cleanups - to make sure nothing escapes from the landfill operation. Every day, they send crews out to clean up the two-mile stretch fronting the landfill, and they will be joining forces this Saturday with the other volunteers.

Frank Doyle, Deputy Director for the City's Department of Environmental Services, is grateful for the tremendous support from an industry he's worked with for years. "The need for disposal and recycling facilities is a fact of life. The City must make sure that, wherever these facilities are placed on our island, the impact to the surrounding community is minimized. This new Adopt-a-Highway Hauler Coalition is only one component of the City's effort to protect the Leeward environment."

Following Saturday's cleanup, workers and their families are invited to relax in the Laulima Room at the James Campbell Building for a brunch sponsored by Waste Management and warm words of thanks. Campbell Estate has graciously opened its facilities on Saturday to support the event.

Participating haulers have signed on with the State Department of Transportation Adopt-a-Highway program, which commits them to a minimum of four cleanups per year and which provides the litter bags, gloves, monitoring and follow-up. Each hauler covers a two-mile, one-way stretch along the H-1 freeway. One hauler has a portion of Farrington Highway in both directions. Altogether, the coalition will cover a six-mile stretch (12 miles of cleanup in both inbound-outbound directions).

For more information on Saturday's event, contact Suzanne Jones at 768-3420.


The volunteers from Pacific Waste (GMI) were clearly stoked to be a part of the coalition.	Island Demo's Mike Leary and crew strike a pose at the post-clean up brunch, sponsored by the Campbell Estate.

The guys from NCNS proudly display their hard earned litter loot.	Are we having fun yet? This was the third litter clean up that Rolloffs Hawaii participated in last year.

This gentleman from Horizon Waste Services definitely kept his cool during the litter clean up.	City and County Recycling Specialist, Chris Hirota, had fun breaking in his new toy during the clean up.

For Waste Management, operators of the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, daily litter clean ups are a part of the job.