Dive Brief:
- Honolulu, HI has eliminated a valuable subsidy benefiting glass recyclers. The lack of monetary reimbursements renders glass collection too costly for recycling companies to continue offering this as a service.
- Beginning June 1, 2014, many glass recyclers stopped accepting glass bottles without advanced deposits from businesses and consumers.
- As a result of the cut, in Oahu alone, approximately 100 tons of glass weekly will be discarded at landfills.
Dive Insight:
As a result of the changes, city officials suspended a law requiring businesses to recycle glass. Bottle importers will continue to pay an advanced deposit fee to the state, to be distributed to counties.
