Question: My Makaha neighborhood is having a problem with overnight scavengers taking cans from the blue recycling trash cans at the scheduled city pickup dates. This overnight activity, usually 2 to 5 a.m., is disruptive. Is there a law against this type of activity?
Answer: The city "occasionally" receives complaints about blue-cart scavenging, said Markus Owens, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Services.
It is illegal and the advice is to call police.
Section 9-1.6 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu prohibits any unauthorized person from removing or disturbing not only recyclable material in the blue bins, but any refuse or green waste as well.
Beyond being disruptive to your neighborhood, the scavengers also are denying the city revenue received from the recyclables.
Essentially, they are "stealing from the taxpayers of Oahu," Suzanne Jones, the city’s recycling coordinator, told us previously.
In fiscal year 2013, a total of $3.45 million was generated from the city’s curbside recycling program, Owens said.
Of that total, $1.4 million came from HI-5 deposit containers; $450,000 from ADF glass (nondeposit containers, such as food jars and liquor bottles); and $1.6 million from sales of other recyclable materials, including newspaper and cardboard, in the commodities market.
The $3.45 million did not all go to the city, because it has a revenue-sharing contract with the recycling processing facility, including processing fees.
So, in fiscal year 2013, the city netted $1.15 million on 21,000 tons of material, Owens said.
Of the $1.15 million, about 40 percent came from HI-5 containers, 15 percent from ADF glass and about 45 percent from commodity sales.
While the city had similar tonnage recovery rates from fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2013, the commodity market value for materials was lower in 2013, hence the drop in commodity revenue, Owens explained.
Question: Is there a charity that accepts gently used prom dresses for less fortunate young ladies? I remember reading somewhere that you can donate them.
Answer: You can donate formal dresses, accessories and makeup/skin care products to The Bella Project, a nonprofit organization that provides prom attire free to high school girls unable to purchase it themselves.
Dresses are collected year-round and made available in the spring and fall. The next giveaway is Oct. 18 at Central Union Church’s Parish Hall, said Valerie Schmidt, president of The Bella Project.
The project was started in 2009 to provide dresses to girls who were not able to afford to go to the prom, she said.
"Since then, we have expanded to not only help out low-income high school girls, but also critically ill and special-needs high school girls," she said. "The past two years, we have helped out over 300 high school girls each academic year."
Schmidt said girls who attend the giveaways get the opportunity to receive a dress, pair of shoes, accessories and makeup, free of charge. They must show a high school ID or show they are working on a general equivalency diploma to come in.
"We accept all donations of all sizes, however our biggest need is for XL-plus dresses and size 10 or larger formal shoes," she said.
Drop-off locations: Verde Kaimuki, 3607 Waialae Ave.; Tea at 1024, 1024 Nuuanu Ave.; My Girlfriend’s Closet, 320 Kuulei Road, Kailua.
Dresses must be formal, including prom, cocktail or bridesmaid dresses; dresses and shoes must be in good condition; accessories must be clean and in good condition; and makeup and skin care products must not be opened or used.
For more information and contacts, go online to thebellaprojecthawaii.org.
Mahalo
To the person who found and turned in my credit card at Kapolei Costco last month. I wish that I could personally thank you for your act of kindness. May you always have the best of luck. — Lanikai Keo
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
