Dive summary:

• Recycling in Hawaii is expensive so officials are proposing switching to an adjusted fee for recyclables that would pay for the recycling.
• Right now there is a flat fee on all glass products so most recyclers don’t see a lot of incentive to take big heavy glass if they pay off is the same for small, easily transported glass.
• The bill will require importers to pay the fee upfront but many are concerned that the extra expense will be passed on the consumers.

From the article:

"The problem is larger glass bottles are not being recycled or recyclers are no longer willing to accept to accept them because they are too expensive to send back to the mainland or other areas for recycling," said Robert Harris of the Sierra Club.

The added fee would help the counties recycling program.

Only a small amount of the glass that is collected is recycled and reused locally. ...