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Spring 1992 | Winter 1992 |
 Call to CouncilPresident's Message (Evelyn Bender)Vote Count Volunteers SalutedBoard HighlightsLeague and Debates: Who Cares? (Catherine Tignac)Hawaii Firearms ControlLeasehold Committee ReportsHome Rule StudyNeighbor Island NewsInvitation to JoinDebate Guidelines CarriedEducation Video AvailableEducation Committee News (Libby Oshiyama & Marion Saunders)ContributionLeague on the "Light Side"Focusing on LWVUSWorld Population NewsRecycling Catches On |
Recycling Catches OnFrom Christmas trees to bottles, the idea that recycling is "the way to go" has begun to catch on. Berlin Township in New Jersey has a recycling program which has been labeled the best in the country according to Renew America's report entitled SHARING SUCCESS. The program recovers 61 % of materials and has a 95% participation rate. Convenience is cited as a major reason for success. Recyclables are co-mingled in a 20 gallon container placed at the curbside. While recycling is mandatory, peer pressure seems to play a role in filling the bright yellow containers. Mature Outlook reported that Chicago's program, called Plastics on Parks, has saved the city about $350,000 in its first year. Residents can deposit plastic bottles in special containers in park field houses. The recycled items are made into plastic "lumber" and then made into park benches and playground material. The League of Women Voters of LA publishes a bi-monthly environmental newsletter focusing on solid waste management. It is available for $6.00 per year. A check, payable to LWV LA, 850 North 5th St., apt. 103, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 will start your subscription. Their fall newsletter features plastics- the "Great White Shark of Recycling" and stresses that with all the confusion about the word" biodegradable," as it applies to plastics, the' concept of pre-cycling is still the safest way to go. The fall Louisiana Voter reported on the premier issue of Garbage, a magazine of interest to those involved in environmental matters. Referring to the subject it suggests we can reject over-packaged products, purchase refillable containers and recycle as much food packaging as possible. The Alabama Voter describes LWVUS's Ed. Fund Community Recycling Project funded by a grant from Waste Management, Inc. The focus is on increasing community awareness of issues surrounding the recycling of paper and other materials into usable products. They note that in 1988, 33 percent of all newspapers were recovered for recycling, and recycling mills are filled to capacity. In Hawaii, there have been many civic and governmental approaches. Suzanne Jones, of the City of County of Honolulu, installed experimental programs in the Kailua area and encouraged programs in Waimanalo. The latter makes extraordinary use of local citizen involvement; it was featured on their public access program. The Manoa Neighborhood Board sponsored a six month project which collected 3370 pounds of aluminum 21,050 pounds of glass, 3720 pounds of cardboard, 1260 pounds of commercial paper and 62,800 pounds of newspaper in 6 Saturday efforts. They figure they saved 94 cubic yards of landfill space and 32 trees. Do you have more exciting examples of what is being done throughout the country or here in Hawaii? Send them to us and we will share them in subsequent Leo Hana editions.
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