White recycling bins at schools is long-term investment in sustainability

During the past several weeks, I joined more than 300 Kanu Hawaii members, and many more students and friends, to submit personal testimony in support of the community recycling "white bins" program.

We are community members who have made personal commitments to change our behaviors to align with the vision of Hawaii that we want to leave for future generations, including working toward a zero-waste society. We believe change starts with personal commitment, and that working together we can change systems and policies to build a more sustainable, resilient and compassionate Hawaii.

The Honolulu City Council recently allocated funding to extend the Community Recycling Program — which had been slated for termination at the end of this month — and to expand the education and outreach components of this program. Mayor Peter Carlisle’s office and the Department of Environmental Services announced recently that they still intend to end the program in spite of the allocation of funding.

We respect that the mayor and the department are trying to be fiscally responsible and prioritize the projects that will yield the highest rates of recycling today. We share the goal of reducing waste and maximizing recycling, and we want the city to be responsible with our tax dollars.

But when we take a long look forward to a future where nothing is wasted and things are reused in the islands, we think it’s important for kids to learn and practice in the place where they spend most of their waking time: at school. It’s a long-term investment in a zero-waste future.

We have a long way to go toward a zero-waste future, and providing the education, outreach and infrastructure that allows students and communities to reduce waste and to recycle are key components that the city can provide.

We worry about those who will lose access to recycling today if the white bins are reduced in the way proposed under the mayor’s current plan. Community members — especially those who lack curbside recycling — rely on the community recycling bins, as do the schools themselves. Schools are currently using the funds generated from the white bins to run programs like Kahuku High School’s sustainability initiative.

We believe that removing recycling programs is a step backward for sustainability and sends the wrong message to our kids.

We, the hundreds of people who testified in favor of preserving the white bins program, see this as an opportunity to expand and improve recycling that suits the needs of the community and schools. We hope we can work with the mayor and his administration to craft a solution that addresses our short-term needs and continues to invest in keiki and schools for the long haul.