Question: What’s the city’s bulky item collection coming to? During the recent collection week in East Honolulu, the crew was two guys with a pickup truck and trailer. They left things like furniture and a TV set. Previously, two guys in a van only picked up items like an old washing machine, leaving behind other items that weren’t collected until a week later. One of my neighbors thinks these are just scavengers. If so, is it legal?
Answer: The Department of Environmental Services hasn’t received many complaints from the public about this, but its employees are well aware of “unauthorized bulky item collectors.”
They know the department’s islandwide bulky item collection schedule and try to make their rounds on Sunday, when the city doesn’t do pickups, or before 6 a.m., ahead of city crews, said Markus Owens, spokesman for Environmental Services.
They are searching for metals for the scrap value of steel, as well as aluminum, copper and brass that are found in appliances and building materials, including screens, jalousies and doors, he said.
“This activity is directly related to the price of scrap steel, which is presently in demand.”
Owens said the department has had a few complaints from residents because the unauthorized collectors “leave behind a mess after sorting through a pile of bulky items in search of metals.”
You’re advised to get a license plate number and call the Honolulu Police Department to report unlicensed collectors, and the department “will prosecute illegal scavengers to the highest extent of the law,” Owens said.
Section 9-1.6 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu — “Disturbing receptacles prohibited” — says no person shall remove, disturb, collect or haul away any refuse, green waste or other recyclable materials from where they have been placed out for collection, unless authorized.
Authorized persons are defined as the property owner, division employees during authorized working hours or a licensed collector.
Question: I see people leave donations at the drop-off box in the back of Market City Shopping Center when it is closed. I think some people take the donations because I saw a man drop off bags at about 4 p.m. Aug. 27. About 6:30 the next morning, I went to Foodland and saw the bags were gone but the drop-off box was still unmanned. What can we do if we see people taking the donations?
Answer: The Salvation Army is aware that donors sometimes leave items in the open at drop-off locations after hours.
To accommodate those donors, it is installing “after-hours unmanned donations bins” at its busiest locations, said Rafael Escalera, business administrator of The Salvation Army Honolulu Adult Rehabilitation Center.
The goal is to make sure that all donations go to benefit its program — rehabilitating men from drugs and alcohol, he said.
He thanked people for their donations and said they can also help by calling 800-728-7825 to schedule a pickup or going to one of its drop-off locations. Call the 800 number or go online at satruck.org/donate-goods for locations.
Mahalo
To the conscientious city worker who routinely picks up our garbage in Pearl City. On Friday, Aug. 17, some trash from a fully loaded bin on our street accidentally fell on the ground. He took the time to stop and pick it all up. I have seen other drivers leave the trash on the ground. I also want to thank him for being so kind to my 16-month-old grandson, who gets excited when those big yellow trucks come by and waves endlessly to the driver. That worker acknowledges him with a “toot” which makes my grandson smile and laugh. It’s precious. We appreciate his good work and kindness. — M.C.
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