Question: Please provide information concerning the next scheduled electronic equipment recycling collection and/or disposing. Thanks.
Answer: The next “Going Green” community recycling event is set for Aug. 26 (a Saturday) at Puuhale Elementary School, 345 Puuhale Road in Kalihi-Palama. Drive to the school parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on that date and volunteers will unload your e-waste and other donations.
This event will accept computers, monitors, printers, scanners, ink cartridges, cell phones, batteries and other e-waste, as well as numerous other items (including one TV per car), according to an email from organizer Rene Mansho.
“Going Green” events also accept HI-5 beverage containers; used household cooking oil; used clothing in good condition, including women’s business attire and prom dresses; used eyeglasses and hearing aids; canned goods; pet food and towels and blankets for pet care.
However, they do not accept tires, paint, metal, motor oil and other hazardous fluids, paper of any type, plastics (other than HI-5), wood or bulky items.
For more information, contact Mansho at 291-6151 or renemansho@hawaii.rr.com. She can email you a flier of upcoming scheduled “Growing Green” events, if this one is far from your neighborhood. Schools and community-service groups interested in hosting a “Going Green” event also are invited to contact her.
Q: It’s about time that the city audited the bulky pickup program (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Aug. 16; 808ne.ws/bulksty). Taxpayers are paying for this out-of-control program. I am among those who complained about having discards left sitting long after the pickup dates. … Does the audit give individual details on sick leave and overtime abuse, or is it average costs?
A: The audit lists individual employees earning the most overtime pay, taking the most sick leave and taking the most leave without pay, but does not give their names. Rankings identify the collection yards where they are based and assign a letter (A through J, for the top 10 employees in each of those categories) to individuals. For example, Exhibit 2.5 of the report says that Employee A at the Pearl City collection yard earned $75,570 in overtime pay from July 2015 to July 2016, the most of any employee in Oahu’s seven collection yards. Exhibit 2.8 says Employee A at the Pearl City yard took 928 hours of sick leave during the audit period, the equivalent of 116 eight-hour workdays, which was the most sick leave. Exhibit 2.10 shows that Employee A at the Pearl City yard took 1,137 hours of leave without pay during the audit period, the most LWOP. To be clear, Employee A is not necessarily the same person in each instance. Because names are not included, we know only that the highest-ranked person (A) in each of those categories worked out of the Pearl City yard.
You can read the full 70-page audit at 808ne.ws/bulkaud2, on the website of the Office of the City Auditor. It also includes specific recommendations to overhaul the program.
Mahalo
Prior to the start of school, I was shopping at the Mapunapuna Fisher Hawaii. At the checkout, the woman in front of me noticed all the supplies that I was purchasing. She asked if I was a teacher, which I am, and we chatted a bit. Imagine my astonishment when the cashier informed me that this woman had left money to help cover my purchases. I was so surprised by this act of kindness that I didn’t get this benefactor’s name. I wanted to let this woman know that as much as I appreciate her generosity, I am deeply touched at how her gift is a recognition of teachers everywhere.
— Mahalo, Roxanne
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.
