State Senator Lorraine R. Inouye, candidate for Hawai'i County Mayor, was the Senate's chief negotiator for the landmark "Bottle Bill" that has resulted in the recycling of millions of aluminum cans and bottles and has demonstrated that recycling can work to protect our environment.

There were many skeptics and outright opponents to the Bottle Bill when Sen. Inouye and others introduced recycling measures in 2004. Opponents and lobbyists spent money and launched media campaigns to block passage of the Bottle Bill.

But Sen. Inouye and some of her colleagues knew that recycling was the right thing to do, and their persistence and dedication to a sustainable future led to the passage of the Bottle Bill by a slim margin.

The Bottle Bill included establishment of special funds to underwrite the collection process and to educate the public. The counties and private sector groups have organized the collection process and set up collection sites. Incentives to recycle are now enjoyed by many individuals and non-profit organizations. And thousands of cans and beverage containers are being diverted from our landfills.

But this is only the beginning of a growing movement to recycle, develop more biodegradable products, reduce dependency on oil, reduce greenhouse gases, produce and buy more local products and create new "green" job opportunities related to environmental protection.

Currently, there is $17 million in a State container deposit special fund that Sen. Inouye, through legislation, attempted to share more fairly with the counties. This measure did not pass during the 2008 session.

As Mayor, Lorraine will continue to seek the County's fair share of the container deposit special fund and will use this money to expand our recycling programs. She also will be an advocate for increasing the types of items that can be recycled under the Bottle Bill.

Please support our sustainable future and vote for Lorraine R. Inouye for Mayor of Hawai'i County.