Episode #35: A Talk Story w/ Henry Gabriel, Recycling Branch Chief of Honolulu

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Henry Gabriel, the Recycling Branch Chief for the City and County of Honolulu. We will dive into what’s trash, what’s not, how our system works here in Hawaii, especially here on Oahu and answer a bunch of questions I am sure you all have wondered about over the years. How much trash do we make? Where does our trash and recycling go? How does it all get sorted? What programs do you offer? Future Plans?

Henry Gabriel is responsible for managing the City’s recycling programs to include curbside recycling, www.Opala.org , recycling contracts, public education and outreach.  His passion is garbage.  He lives his life as a solid waste coordinator at home. He’s well versed in green waste and food waste composting. Reduce, reuse, recycling, refuse and recovery is his way of life. Henry has a degree in Civil Engineering. In California, he’s worked at recycling and composting facility. On O’ahu, he’s worked as a planning engineer for the City on the wastewater side. Everything and anything to do with waste, Henry is that guy.

Helpful Links:

Website: www.opala.org

Contact Page: https://www.opala.org/solid_waste/contact/contact_us.html list of phone numbers and emails to contact important waste management departments

Condo Program: Contact Page: https://www.opala.org/solid_waste/contact/contact_us.html list of phone numbers and emails to contact important waste management departments

Clearecycle Program: https://www.opala.org/solid_waste/bag_collection_systems.htm

Food Waste Info: https://www.opala.org/solid_waste/food_waste_prevention.html and the pdf: https://www.opala.org/solid_waste/pdfs/Food_Too_Good_to_Waste.pdf

food storage chart: https://www.opala.org/solid_waste/pdfs/A_to_Z_storage_guide.pdf

Henry Gabriel's contact info: Email:  hgabriel@honolulu.gov | Phone: 808.768.3427 (Direct Line)

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