The County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management added seven holiday closures.
For the first time last Sunday, recycling and waste facilities on Hawaii Island were closed in observance of Veterans’ Day.
Finding the transfer stations closed Sunday, caught many residents by surprise, and some ended up leaving the trash at the entrance.
“We have to do a better job in communicating to public advance notices,” said Mayor Harry Kim. “This will be done, any change of closure, whether it be a park or dumpster or anything else.”
The additional holidays were added after the department budget passed on July 1.
Previously the only holiday closures were Thanksgiving, Christmas day and New Year’s day. The additional holiday closures will mean there will be a total of ten holiday closures throughout the year at recycling and solid waste transfer stations.
“We’re not trying to inconvenience people but we believe that this is a small change that people should be able to adjust to,” said Greg Goodale, solid waste division chief. “It’s a positive change for the county, not only for the employees who get to spend more time with their family but it’s also going to have an effect on the county in terms of our budget. It’s going to cut back on some expense for the county.”
The county says they will be putting new signs up at all of the transfer stations, letting people know when the next holiday closure will be.
Here is a full list of holiday closures:
New Year’s Day, First day of January
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,Third Monday in January
Presidents Day, Third Monday in February
Good Friday, Friday preceding Easter Sunday
Memorial Day, Last Monday in May
Independence Day, Fourth day of July
Labor Day, First Monday in September
Veterans’ Day, Eleventh day of November
Thanksgiving Day, Fourth Thursday of November
Christmas Day, Twenty-Fifth day of December
If you have any questions, contact the Solid Waste Administrative Office at 808-961-8270.
