Rubbish dumps, water stations
Sunday, February 18, 2007 at 01:54PM 
In August I complained about the large amounts of rubbish strewn on Cemetery Road where the Pahoa transfer station is located, and later I rejoiced in its cleanup. (In the past I've referred to the road the transfer stations is on as "Rubbish Dump Road," as have county officials and media. But when I looked it up in the Ready Map Book of East Hawaii (2001) ed.), it's called "Cemetery Road.") Even the Star-Bulletin weighed in on it, but the predictable happened. Because the transfer station is closed at night, people leave their rubbish along the road nearby. While I struggle with the logic, it's true that the road is more foul than before and the illegal dumping continues onto Kaohe Homestead Road. The photo was taken Sunday.
The implicit answer is to keep the transfer station open at night. But really? Some people would take advantage of the convenience but too many others would continue dumping as they please. One of the primary reasons I was so eager to get a UV water filter system in my home a few years ago was the condition of the public water stations, where people also dumped rubbish and apparently rediapered a lot of babies. Imagine the dumping problem if more restrictions or fees were imposed on legal dumping. It must make recycling advocates crazy.
Maybe the new water station is cleaner, I don't know. But on another topic, the new water station makes a good example of how dicey direct access to Rt. 130 can be. I'm glad I don't have to pull in there regularly. It's bad enough getting around the cars waiting to make the left turn.
And as someone else mentioned, I understand that fire trucks at the new station being built down the road will be able to activate warning lights on Rt. 130 when they are coming out. Planning Director Chris Yuen said that.
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (6)
I just don't get the mentality of people who dump illegally, but I especially don't get it when they dump where they pick up their water. Not even the lowliest animal messes where it eats and drinks unless it is caged. Probably at risk of life and limb, I once confronted two guys throwing a bag of rubbish into the bushes at one of the old water stations, and was told, "We don't have time or gas money to go to the dump." They gave me serious stinkeye and left without beating me up.
And yes, efforts to require more recycling and re-use will only give these sorts more incentive to dump illegally. The answer is stricter enforcement of the laws, but the cops will complain that they have more serious issues to deal with.
Gee, Hunter, you really got me going. I hate this sort of crap.
The Lack
Agreed. The criminals who foul our community are the lowest of the low...
As for the police and their "better things to do" line...as far as this tax-paying, voting citizen is concerned, rubbish that dirties our byways, and harbors mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rats, is a FAR bigger threat to my community than anything that anybody is growing in their backyard. That is one priority to change in funding...
While at the Council I inquired to the HPD Vice Captain about using the helicopters to enforce anti-dumping laws. He said yes, it could happen; but he was in no hurry to pursue the point.
There will always be some who trash the road but closing the transfer station doesn't seem prudent. The refuse folks would probably say that if they don't close it the bins overflow, but moving/picking up the rubbish at the station seems easier than dealing with it down the road.
Mr Weatheford! How dare you agree with Brian and Me on another issue! I don't believe our local police really care about a "backyard garden". So, I guess we all agree on this one. Sometimes the "get tough on crime" thing gets tough on the wrong crime. Then, our tax dollars follow along.