Category — conservation

For one day, residents disposed of computer parts properly
October 26, 2008 - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

See the VIDEO

On Saturday, Hawaii’s Education and Government eWaste Disposal Days 2008 allowed island residents an opportunity to discard the computer trash that is forbidden at landfills.

Personal eWaste was brought to several locations throughout the islands. On the Big Island, designated locations at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Kealakehe High School in Kona assisted residents in getting rid of monitors, keyboards, hardrive towers and video equipment.

These electronics contain hazardous materials that must be disposed of using a sensitive approach to avoid polluting the environment, according to a Hawaii Department of Education website. The website also said that the eWaste that was collected on Saturday would be recycled into commodity grade materials like metals, plastics and glass. Recycling and disposal services were reportedly provided by Apple.

The name of the bug is Tectococcus. From what I am told, its like an aphid of sorts, and its from Brazil. And the powers that be in Hawaii had considered bringing it here as a form of bio control. They wanted Tectococcus to eat up all the Strawberry Guava plants that have been doing a number on native forests. But the people said no.

There have been a number of rallies and meetings on this issue, mostly in opposition of the introduced bug. The vocal majority seems to love the Strawberry Guava, also called Waiawi.

Hawaii 1st district councilman, Dominic Yagong, invited me down to the Honoka’a County Gym to see firsthand (and record) the passion of the people over this issue.

The video is here: http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/20080717waiawi.htm

I would like to thank Sydney Ross Singer for helping me to identify some of the key speakers in this video. Singer, a friend to the often misunderstood invasive species of Hawaii, operates the website savetheguava.com. It is a great source of info on the subject, even if it is unashamed in its slant on behalf of the Waiawi plant. Singer was also a great orator, and he is featured often in this video.

Credit must also be givern to Christy Martin of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, who on this night went into the proverbial lions den, and took the intense criticism in stride. More can be read about her organization’s efforts at the website, hawaiianinvasivespecies.org.