Living in paradise isn't always paradise. Yes the weather's usually great, the beach is warm, and Hawaii Regional Cuisine is easy to find in Kamuela and the Kohala Coast. But we are occasionally reminded that we live in the back waters of the mid-Pacific, especially when seeking local government service.
The past few years I have been dutifully collecting my e-waste. Old printers, old PDAs, and anything electrical has been gathering in a sturdy cardboard box in the workshop. Planning a trip into Kona this week, I called the e-waste recycling business I saw advertised. The ad referenced a fee. A fee? The best way to encourage citizens not to put e-waste in the landfill is by charging a fee? Well, it can't be much. Wrong! In my case, handling my e-waste responsibly will cost about $100.
"We haven't received a subsidy check from Hawaii County since January," said Kona's Compucycle clerk. "True," said one County Councilman's legislative assistant. "I believe the County canceled that contract." The Mayor's Executive Assistant, Bobby Command, said we still do budget for a subsidy, but funds always run out too early. I asked him if the County can create a consumer tax levied at the time of an electronic purchase to fund the subsidy? Only the state can do that, he said.
So I emailed my state representative. Sadly, I don't harbor hope for state legislators to pay any attention to my suggestion. Most voters are on Oahu, where they have Best Buy, a retailer which accepts e-waste at no charge. I guess I can pay the $100 to get rid of my e-waste, or take it all with me to Oahu on my next trip and visit Best Buy. To be environmentally responsible while "living Hawaii" on the Big Island can require a fat wallet.
Diana also writes the BigIslandHawaiiLuxury.com blog.
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