Key to recycling is completing the cycle

Nobody questions that Hawaii has made progress in its efforts to reduce waste. Various community groups involved in the Global Work Day on Sunday have witnessed a growth in interest in taking steps to reduce an individual’s carbon footprint.

But one of Hawaii’s limiting factors is that most used stuff has to be shipped elsewhere to be reborn as another product. At the North American Plastic Recycling Network (www.recyclingplasticwaste.com), there’s a state-by-state directory of plastic recyclers, including companies that make products from recycled plastics.

Hawaii’s roster of companies doing this work is one of the shortest — and this from a state really handicapped by its dependence on offshore markets. That’s motivation, or it should be.

Wheaties honors Ironman

You, too, can be an Ironman — just eat your Wheaties.

That would seem to be the message when Chris McCormack, the Ironman World Championship winner, lands on the cereal maker’s box cover sometime over the next few months. His appearance will be the first time an Ironman will be honored on the cereal box — though for the Australian athlete, Saturday’s win in the 140.6-mile triathlon in Kailua-Kona marked his second victory in four years.

Mirinda Carfrae, another Australian, won in the women’s division. Wonder if an Ironwoman Wheaties cover is in the works.