Question: We have just changed out our old thermostat and have found that it contains mercury. What is the proper and safe way to dispose of it?
Answer: Products containing mercury are on the list of household hazardous waste that requires special handing upon disposal, according to the Department of Environmental Services, which coordinates a free drop-off service every two months at a facility contracted by the city.
The next drop-off event is set for March 11. You, and other Oahu residents, may call 768-3201 to schedule an appointment to drop off materials then.
Be sure to call at least a week in advance of the event to schedule your appointment.
When you make the call, have an inventory of all the hazardous waste you wish to dispose of. The inventory should include both the type and the quantity of the material you’re throwing away.
If you cannot wait until March to get rid of the thermostat, you could call a private hazardous waste company for disposal now; you would have to pay for the service.
For a list of other household waste the city says Oahu residents should not dispose of on their own, see 808ne.ws/hazwaste8.
Q: I want to write a letter to Donald Trump. If you can print the address, I would really appreciate that.
A: Write to President Donald Trump at The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500.
If you have access to a computer, your message will reach his staff more quickly via email. Use the contact form at whitehouse.gov/contact.
Q: Are jail and prison the same thing — I mean when they talk about it on the news?
A: No, the two terms are not interchangeable.
People confined in jails generally are awaiting trial, a status known as being a pretrial detainee, or they may be awaiting sentencing or may be serving a relatively short term after being convicted and sentenced. Sentences served in jail are generally less than a year and usually are for less serious offenses.
Prisons, also sometimes referred to as correctional facilities or penitentiaries, are reserved for people who have been convicted of a crime (typically a felony) and are serving an extended sentence (usually longer than a year). So, if you hear that someone’s going to be in jail for the rest of his life, the speaker actually means prison.
On Oahu the state Judiciary (court system) oversees the jail population, while the state Department of Public Safety has jurisdiction over prisons.
A document on the DPS website provides a detailed description of the difference between jail and prison, and also specifies the chain-of-custody flow for people arrested and convicted on Oahu.
You can read it at 808ne.ws/2iLHRYR.
Auwe
In reference to the annoyed neighbor complaining about dog owners (808ne.ws/2iUMtY5): There should be a leash law for cats, too. They spray on your tires, windshields; leave paw prints on your car, walls, fences; leave smelly excrement in your yard; not to mention how they antagonize dogs by making them bark at all hours of the day. — H.H.
Mahalo
On Dec. 14 I went to Longs at Mililani Town Center. The “Peanuts Musical Ice-Skating Rink” that I wanted for my grandchildren was no longer on sale, so I told the cashier, “I’ll get it later.” A young lady behind me stated, “I’ll get it for you.” I protested, but she was already paying for it. I was speechless. I will certainly pay it forward. — Mahalo from a grateful Mililani senior citizen
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.
