Big changes coming to Honolulu bulky trash pickup program
HONOLULU — Bulky trash pick-up is about to change dramatically for some Honolulu residents.
The city announced Tuesday that the program would be moving to an appointment-based system for the pickup for about 70,000 single-family and multi-family residential buildings starting June 3.
The switch is part of a pilot program aimed at reducing in costs.
The city hopes the new appointment system will encourage more people to reuse items rather than throw them away.
Lori Kahikina, director of city Environmental Services, said the city has seen an 80% uptick in bulky item tonnage since 2008.
“As the pilot progresses, we’ll analyze the metrics and feedback to see where improvements can be made,” she said.
Single-family homes will be limited to five bulky items per appointment. Multi-unit residential buildings can schedule the pick-up of 20 items per appointment.
Residents can go to www.opala.org after May 15 to schedule appointments.
With a Hawaii connection
RI lawmakers hear from critics of criminal prostitution
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Critics of criminal prostitution laws are urging Rhode Island lawmakers to support a legislative study on decriminalizing sex work.
The resolution, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Anastasia Williams of Providence, would create a House study commission on changing the state’s prostitution laws.
Current and former sex workers, academics and defense attorneys told lawmakers Tuesday that prostitution laws don’t curtail the trade and hurt sex workers.
Advocates hope Rhode Island becomes a test case for changing prostitution laws because of its small size, Democratic party dominance and because selling sex indoors was legal in the state between 2002 and 2009.
New Hampshire is also considering a legislative study commission on decriminalization, and Hawaii has proposed bills to amend their prostitution laws, but nothing has passed yet.
NY lawmakers vote to ban pesticide blamed for harm to babies
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York lawmakers have voted to join Hawaii in banning a widely used pesticide that’s blamed for harming the brains of babies.
The Democrat-led Senate and Assembly passed legislation Tuesday evening that would immediately prohibit aerial spraying of chlorpyrifos. All use of the pesticide would be banned in December 2021.
The pesticide is used on many crops, including apples, a leading New York product.
California and other states are also considering restrictions on the chemical after the Trump administration balked at a federal ban.
Studies have linked chrlopyrifos to neurological problems in children. A federal appeals court ruled last year that the Trump administration endangered public health by ignoring evidence about the pesticide.
The measure now moves to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who hasn’t weighed in on the bill.