The Bottle Bill
| Frequently Asked Questions The Department of Public Works & Environmental Management's Recycling Section offers these answers to frequently asked questions about the Bottle Bill. Why can't we take containers back to the stores where we bought them? It’s not a good idea to collect redemption containers in the same building where food is stored. But, any store may invite a company to place a Redemption Center in their parking lot as a convenience to their customers. Or, stores might arrange with a private reverse vending machine company for machines to service their customers. Interested persons should ask their neighborhood store to incorporate one of these services. How should I separate and prepare containers and is it true that Redemption Centers may pay either by the number of containers or by weight? Containers should be separated by their material classification. Remove the tops, empty and do not crush containers. For a complete list of which containers are in the system and those that are out, log on to the Hawaii Department of Health Beverage Container Deposit Program. If redeeming more than 100 containers at one time, redemption centers may choose to pay by weight. The State Department of Health (DOH) has adopted the containers per pound formula as follows: Aluminum = 30 cans per pound Bi-metal = 8 cans per pound Glass = 2.4 bottles per pound PET #1 Plastic = 16.6 bottles per pound HDPE #2 Plastic = 16.6 bottles per pound Why can't we redeem 2 liter bottles? Currently the bottle bill includes beverage containers up to 64 oz. (1/2 gallon) only. Therefore, 2 liter and larger containers are not part of the HI 5 Program. There is a bill that is rapidly moving through the 2006 State legislative session to include 2 liter bottles. Watch for updates on this topic. Until then, please continue to recycle 2 liters at the County recycling centers. When can we go back to crushing our containers? On June 7, 2005, Governor Lingle signed HB-1015 into law which allows for the flattening of metal and plastic beverage containers for deposit redemption. Certified redemption centers are now accepting flattened or crushed metal and plastic deposit beverage containers. Flattened containers are weighed at redemption sites to determine the deposit payment. The public is reminded that reverse vending machines will not accept flattened or crushed containers. |
| Mahalo for recycling and helping to keep Maui No Ka 'Oi! Hana Steel, Ph. D., Recycling Coordinator, County of Maui |
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