August 5, 2010

HI-5 redemption rate hits 76 percent

HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Department of Health says the state's beverage container deposit fee will remain at 6 cents per container this year. The deposit redemption rate for the fiscal year ending June 30 was 76 percent, down from a record high 79 percent in the previous fiscal year. Office of Solid Waste Management spokeswoman Jennifer Tosaki says more than 685 million containers recycled in the past year. Each August the state uses the redemption rate to help determine whether the container fee for the HI-5 program should be increased. This year, the fee could rise by half a cent per container, but state officials say it will remain at 1 cent, plus the 5 cent refundable deposit.

http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=20611