Henry Gabriel, Honolulu’s Recycling Program Branch Chief, joins producer/host Coralie Chun Matayoshi to discuss the City’s plan to provide designated drop-off locations for electronic waste, a Hawaii state law that requires manufacturers of electronic devices to operate recycling programs, different disposal methods for electronic devices and batteries, and challenges involved in disposing used solar panels.
Q. The United States is the second highest producer of e-waste (China is #1), generating 6.9 million tons of e-waste each year, and only about 15% of it is recycled. There isn't much information about how much e-waste Hawaii generates each year, but in 2012, Electronic Recyclers ERI and MRM collected and recycled over 1.4 million pounds of e-waste in Hawaii. What is the City and County of Honolulu doing to help residents dispose of used electronic devices?
The City and County of Honolulu is working on a program to provide designated drop-off locations for electronic waste. There are special collection events for residents to safely dispose of used electronic devices like computers and televisions through organizations such as Going Green and Kokua Foundations, 3Rs Program.
Q. What other programs are operating on the island to help take in used electronic devices?
Other programs on the island include retailer take-back programs, nonprofit organization collections, and community e-waste recycling events.
Q. Doesn’t the State of Hawaii have a law requiring manufacturers of electronic devices to operate recycling programs? How does that work?
The Hawaii Electronic Device Recycling and Recovery Law requires manufacturers of electronic devices to operate recycling programs. Electronic devices (EDs) include computers, computer printers, computer monitors, portable computers with a screen size greater than four inches measured diagonally, and televisions with a viewable screen of nine inches or larger. Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 339D.
Q. Are there different methods for disposing used electronic devices versus batteries?
Electronic devices and batteries require different disposal methods due to the varying materials and potential hazards they contain. Proper recycling ensures safety and environmental protection.
Q. What kinds of devices use lithium batteries and why can’t we just throw them away in the regular trash?
Residents should NOT throw lithium batteries in the regular trash because they pose fire and environmental hazards if not handled properly.
Q. What is the difference between standalone and embedded batteries?
Standalone batteries can be easily removed from devices, while embedded batteries are built into the device and are not easily removable.
Q. Where do people need to take each kind of battery?
- Standalone alkaline batteries - dispose of in regular trash or at designated drop-off disposal sites.
- Standalone rechargeable (lithium, NiMH, NiCad, lead acid) batteries - take to one of the city’s convenience centers, transfer stations, hazardous drop-off location, or battery recycling businesses (e.g. Battery Bill).
- Embedded lithium batteries - may be dropped off at city hazardous waste drop-off location, by appointment only.
Q. What should residents do with a damaged/swollen/”ballooning” lithium battery?
Residents should place damaged, swollen, or "ballooning" lithium batteries in a non-flammable material (like sand or kitty litter) and take them to a hazardous waste collection site.
Q. Why go through all this extra effort to recycle the used electronic devices and the batteries?
Recycling used electronic devices and batteries prevents environmental pollution, reduces waste in landfills, recovers valuable materials, and ensures the safe handling of hazardous substances.
Q. A big issue going forward is how to dispose of all of the solar panels everyone’s got on their rooftops. Aren’t many of them coming up on the end of their 20-25 year lifespan?
Solar panels are a hazardous waste and need to be disposed of at a hazardous waste landfill or sold for reuse.
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Disclaimer: this material is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The law varies by jurisdiction and is constantly changing. For legal advice, you should consult a lawyer that can apply the appropriate law to the facts in your case.