December 1999

Aloha and Happy Holidays! The magic of the holiday season also makes for lots of trash in its aftermath—tons of trees, tinsel, wrapping paper and boxes. It’s not easy to think “reduce, reuse and recycle” when we so enjoy the excesses of the holidays, but give it a try. For example, wrap gifts in scarves, bottles in attractive socks, or give gift certificates. Look for Christmas Tree-cycling dates and locations, or consider a reusable tree. This year, more than 100,000 Oahu homes will be able to recycle their Christmas trees simply by putting them out at the curb for pickup on their regular yard waste collection days.

I encourage everyone to include in your Year 2000 resolutions protecting Hawaii’s environment. 

My thanks to the members of the Partnership for the Environment for leading us into the new millennium.—Mayor Jeremy Harris

About the Partnership
The Partnership for the Environment is a coalition of businesses coordinated by the City & County of Honolulu to support recycling, waste reduction and purchasing recycled-content products. The Partnership offers resources, guides, technical assistance, a speakers bureau and peer consulting and publicly recognizes businesses for their efforts. The Partnership‘s growing coalition of peer consultants is willing to share its expertise to assist other businesses in developing intelligent recycling programs. For more information and to become a partner, call the City‘s Recycling Office at 527-5335.


American Savings Bank 
Setting a Good Example
Here at American Savings Bank, we go beyond banking...we take pride in knowing that we are also doing our part to preserve the environment. We have made it a point to make sure that the waste we produce is reused and recycled. We have several programs in place that demonstrate our commitment to a cleaner, greener environment.
Recycling Program 
One program in effect is our paper recycling program. Each day, all non-confidential papers are placed in paper recycling bins located throughout our offices. In addition, confidential papers are shredded and converted to mulch and packing material. Furthermore, the recycling effort at some of our locations extends to include the recycling of aluminum, plastic and glass. “We count on our employees to make a conscious effort to recycle,” said Allen Ono, Executive Vice President of Administration. “The program is only as good as those who participate in it,” he said.
Energy Efficiency
Another way American Savings Bank aims to help our environment is to capitalize on energy efficiency. To do this, we have installed light sensors that automatically shut off the overhead lights when people are not in the area. “This is a wonderful energy saving feature that does not take much effort,” said Ono. “We save energy without even thinking about it. That’s great!”
Mass Transit
To help cut down on pollution, American Savings Bank employees are encouraged to take mass transit to and from work. Employees are subsidized for the purchase of The Bus pass. The use of mass transit helps decrease pollution and creates a cleaner atmosphere. “This program has been an overwhelming success for us,” said Ono. “A good number of our employees utilize The Bus to commute to and from work,” he said. 
Holiday Tree-Cycling
We know the environment is precious and it is everyone’s responsibility to preserve its beauty. During the holidays, we also encourage our branches and departments to utilize the tree-cycling program offered by the City and County of Honolulu. As with paper products, the trees are recycled and converted to mulch, creating fertilizer from natural materials. 
American Savings Bank cares about the environment and is taking steps to ensure that the natural beauty of the islands is preserved through conscious efforts to curb waste and recycle. We are proud to participate in waste prevention and recycling to keep our island and earth beautiful.
10th Annual Tree-Cycling Campaign
Recycle your tree and get free mulch, too. 
Drop off your Christmas trees for chipping and composting at any of the City’s Refuse & Recycling Convenience Centers anytime, or at special TreeCycling sites January 8 and 15. Call 527-5335 or 521-CHIP (2447) for locations and information. 
Curbside collection of trees is available in all neighborhoods with automated refuse collection. Simply set your tree at the curb for pick-up on one of your regular twice-per-month yard waste collection days. Please remove all decorations and tinsel. Trees with flocking cannot be recycled.
Free mulch made of ground yard trimmings blended with Christmas trees will be available to the public at sites around the islands during the months following Christmas. Call 527-5335 for locations.

Call 527-5335 for a free RECYCLING AT WORK video, which profiles the companies and organizations that comprise the Partnership for the Environment. Hawaii's leaders in recycling discuss how smart waste management strategies have benefitted their businesses as well as our island home. Last call to sign up for the “Tour de Trash” on November 16 and 18 for a first hand behind-the-scenes look at their recycling programs. Call 533-1292.