Contact: Russell Nanod
(808) 668-2985 / (808) 479-5140

Don't Trash That Earthquake E-Waste - Recycle It.

Hawaii - October 19, 2006 - Due to last Sunday’s earthquake, many West Hawaii hotels and residences need to dispose of their e-waste, such as computers and all computer components, TV sets, VCRs and other entertainment electronics.

Hotels and commercial businesses may drop off their eWaste at the Puuanahulu landfill. West Hawaii residents may leave their e-Waste at County Transfer Stations but do not put items down the chutes. The e-waste will later be collected for proper disposal. This is for emergency purposes only. For more information, call the County Solid Waste Division at 961-8515.

The following universal waste items have been banned from household disposal for some time:

• Electrical switches and relays – mercury switches that can be found in some chest freezers, pre-1972 washing machines, sump pumps, electric space heaters, clothes irons, silent light switches, automobile hood and trunk lights, and ABS brakes.
  
  
• Pilot light sensors – mercury-containing switches found in some gas appliances such as stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, water heaters, furnaces and space heaters.
  
  
• Mercury gauges – some gauges, such as barometers, manometers, blood pressure and vacuum gauges, contain mercury.
  
  
• Novelties – examples include greeting cards that play music when opened, athletic shoes (made before 1997) with flashing lights in soles and mercury maze games.
  
  
• Mercury thermometers – mercury thermometers typically contain about a half-gram of mercury. Many health clinics, pharmacies and doctor's offices have thermometer exchange programs that will give you a new mercury-free fever thermometer in exchange for your old one.
  
  
• Non-empty aerosol cans that contain hazardous materials – many products in aerosol cans are toxic and many aerosol cans contain flammables, like butane, as propellants for products like paint. If your aerosol can is labeled with words like TOXIC or FLAMMABLE, don't put it in the trash unless it is completely empty.