FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             November 28, 2006

HOLIDAY REFUSE COLLECTION REMINDER

            The City Department of Environmental Services reminds residents whose refuse is normally collected on Mondays and Thursdays that there will be no pickup on Christmas and New Year’s days (December 25 and January 1) this holiday season.

            “We’re asking the people who are on the Monday-Thursday collection cycle to plan ahead to lessen the inconvenience,” said Eric Takamura, director of Environmental Services. “People on the Monday-Thursday schedule might want to be extra careful in managing their household waste streams during those weeks. Double-bag food waste to keep odors down, and hold paper waste for a later collection.

            “Christmas and New Year are the only holidays that all of our Refuse Division crews take off, and those holidays happen to fall on Mondays this time,” Takamura said. “We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation.”

            The City’s six convenience centers (Ewa, Laie, Wahiawa, Waianae, Waimanalo and Waipahu) will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve for those who wish to dispose of refuse themselves.

            The City provides free twice-a-week refuse collection year-round for almost 200,000  homes on Oahu. For more information, see the Refuse Divison website at www.opala.org or call 692-5358.

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Contact:

            Eric Takamura, Director of Environmental Services, 692-5159

            Ken Shimizu, Deputy Director of Environmental Services, 692-5206