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Posted: Thursday, October 20th, 2005 5:26 AM HST

Beverage container recycling on the upswing

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ The state Department of Health says more than 150 (m) million beverage containers were recycled in Hawaii during July and August for a redemption rate of 73 percent. Overall, around 652 (m) million beverage containers were sold in Hawaii from October, when nickel deposits began to be charged, through August. Of those, more than 310 (m) million have been redeemed for a recycling rate of 47 percent. Laurence Lau is deputy director of environmental health. He says officials are pleased to see an increase in beverage container recycling. He says while month-to-month numbers vary and should be treated cautiously, the overall trend is encouraging. In July, lugging empty beverage containers to redemption centers became a lot easier when consumers were allowed to flatten metal and plastic containers before bringing them in for their deposit. (Copyright 2005 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)