The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset’s “Go Green Third Saturday” recycling project ended a successful first year in June, proving that committed community partnerships and dedicated volunteers can make a difference.
 
 
 
A monthly partnership of Malama Maui Nui, the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, the County of Maui, 5A Rent-A-Space and Lahaina Cannery Mall, the program had 1,828 resident and visitor drop-offs during its first year, July 2015 through June 2016. Close to 700 appliances, nearly 73,000 pounds of scrap metal, over 1,800 pieces of E-waste and more than 27,000 pounds of recyclable materials including paper, plastic, glass and aluminum were collected.  
 
“The Lahaina Sunset Rotary has been such an amazing partner and a demonstration of community stewardship at its finest,” said Gabrielle Schuerger, Deputy Director, Malama Maui Nui. “We are looking forward to another fantastic year full of positive waste management and conservation initiatives and we thank the members of Lahaina Sunset Rotary for making Third Saturday Recycling so successful!”
 
The project, which will be in place through June 2017, was awarded funding by the Maui County Council with strong support from Council Member Elle Cochran and Council Chair Mike White. Malama Maui Nui and the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset will remain to run the event, which will continue to be held in the parking lot of Lahaina Cannery Mall on the third Saturday of every month.
 
“We are so grateful to the Maui County Council for recognizing the importance of recycling and to our community partners Malama Maui Nui, Lahaina Cannery Mall and 5A Rent-A-Space for their support,” said Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset President, Melissa Fort. “Our dedicated volunteers and club members make this event possible and we are excited to begin another year of helping to keep our island clean,” she said.
 
The next “Go Green Third Saturday Recycling” event will be held on July 16 with new hours, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lahaina Cannery Mall. The recyclables that qualify for drop off are: appliances, bicycles, cameras, cardboard, cell phones, computers, gaming consoles, HI-5 cans and bottles, push lawn mowers, magazines, microwaves, newspaper, plastics 1 & 2, printers, scrap metal, televisions and video cameras. No oversize tires are accepted. There is a $5 charge for each regular sized tire. All other items are accepted without charge. No fees are paid to residents for recyclables delivered to the event.
 

Jen Cox, Community Relations Specialist, Malama Maui Nui, receives a funding check for Third Saturday Recycling from the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset. From left: Jim Fahnestock, Sandy Schneider, Jen Cox, Liz May

Nearly 700 appliances have been recycled through the program.