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New law aims to reduce curbside dumping

A new law aims to curb the clutter left behind by bulky items that have yet to be picked up. LYNN NAKAGAWA KA LEO O HAWAI‘I

LYNN NAK AGAWA News Editor

Mattresses, furniture and other bulky items sometimes pepper the streets of O‘ahu. When this happens, the items may stay on the streets for about a month before the city removes them. To lessen the amount of such curbside dumping, Bill 78, which took effect this month, allows the city to assess fines of $250 per day to property owners who dump too far from the monthly pick-up date. “ The new law, like many others, is detrimental because it is unenforceable,” said Cody Moniz, who studies electrical engineering and computer science at UH Mānoa.

Under the law, bulky items may be placed on the curb only on the evening before the first pickup date and no later than 6 a.m. on the first collection day. Those who cannot wait to dump their bulky trash are advised to take it to one of the city’s convenience centers. Bulky item pickup occurs over a three- to four-day period starting on different days for respective sectors. The bulky items must make it to the curb on the first day of pick-up. For some, the new law, aimed at furniture, mattresses, bed frames and appliances may hinder the prevalence of quality items – ones that people who moved or no longer wanted put on the street. The street “market” sometimes yields quality

items or items that need a little TLC but are usable. Moniz found an ionic breeze air purifier as well as two computers he was able to fi x on the side of the road. Jaslyn Silver, a Kaimukī resident, has found a vintage lamppost roadside, along with other household items. The pieces require refi nishing but add a vintage appeal to the modern home she shares with her husband. Silver recommends Re-use Hawai‘i to those who wish to buy or donate such items. The nonprofit organization accepts and sells salvaged lumber, cabinets, sinks, hardware, windows, doors, fl ooring and other household materials at a reduced price. Many enjoy the opportunity to

fi nd antique or specialty items. Silver has found a Singer sewing machine table and various concrete pots in addition to the lamppost and other pieces of furniture. Some residents believe it will be diffi cult to assess a fi ne when it is nearly impossible to tell who did the dumping. “People just dump their things when they need to,” said Jay Hanamura, a Mākiki resident. “In the area that I live it’s also hard to tell who dumped their stuff,” he said. Hanamura believes the law will not change much. Moniz echoes these sentiments. “There’s a broken old rusty refrigerator right in front of a supermarket near where I live and I’m sure they aren’t the ones who

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put it there. Is it their responsibility to take care of it? There’s no way to prove who put it there, and it’s been sitting there nearly all month,” he said. Moniz believes that new laws should be evaluated after a trial period. “Laws should come with an expiration date, in which it is evaluated for its effectiveness at the end of its term. There’s no feedback or performance indicators on laws in our current government system,” said Moniz. W hile the law took effect on Jan. 1, it may be several months until the rules detailing the violations process are adopted. No citations can be issued until then. In the meantime, people who wish to report bulky waste on non-designated days are asked to call 768 -3203. The property owner nearest to the bulky waste will be sent a warning letter with the collection schedule for bulky waste. “We are still finalizing the administrative rules,” said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Services. Owens said the rules might be finalized within the next few months. “We also will take factors into account. If there’s a 90 -year-old grandma, we’re going to know she didn’t put six sofas on her lawn,” he said. Bulky item pickup for Sector 5, which includes McCully, Kapahulu, Kaimukī and Diamond Head, occurs on the third Monday of every month. Pickup for Sector 4, which includes Tantalus, Makiki and Mānoa occurs on the second Wednesday of every month. The city and county’s De partment of Environmental Services website provides a search engine to determine the pickup day of respective sectors by inputting an address. Visit the website at w w w.opala.org.