Aloha Kākou!

Bottles4College needs your help! 

We have the incredible opportunity to present a Recycling in Schools Initiative at the Council of the City & County of Honolulu with the support from Councilmember Matt Weyer.

I (Genshu Price) will be presenting at the hearing at 1pm on Tuesday August 19th, 2025 about the importance of having City & County supported recycling initiative happening at Hawaii schools. Bottles4College has started our Bottles4College 4 Schools program in the school year of 2024-2025, with Kailua High School and Kapolei High School participating. Each school were able to recycle significant amounts with the cooperation of their community and gain Bottles4College Scholarships designated just for their schools. Having the Schools initiative brings accessibility to environmental education to the students of Hawai'i both inside the classroom and outside in actions with the community. Community members benefit in participating in supporting environmental causes by having a convenient and accessible way to recycle in their local community schools. 

As our world inspires to do better for the environment, education and awareness from a young age, creating perpetual habits toward environmental stewardship is essential. Having recycling initiatives at schools will be the first stepping stone to make Hawaii more sustainable as we will be supporting raising a generation of students and future community leaders that have practiced recycling in their dialy lives at schools. 

Please Submit a written testimony supporting this initiative to introduce Recycling in Schools. 

You can use this link to submit a written testimony by 1pm 8/29 Tuesday:

https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/testimony

Select: Energy, Environment, and Sustainability

1pm presentation. 

Submit a testimony SUPPORTING this recycling in schools initiative to bring sustainability to Hawaiʻi schools. 

OR 

Email or message us your support with your full name and consent to publically share your support so we may be able to quote your support during our presentation.

Why this program needs to be created

• 
  Establishes awareness and a lifestyle that thinks to recycle and to be mindful of how we dispose of trash.
  
• 
  This program would create immediate action, not just the call for it, something that sets this apart from efforts of other environmental bills.
  
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  Allows the community and planet to thrive together and lets every individual in our community take part.
  
• 
  Environmental education is not actively taught, leaving students ill-equipped to be able to care for our planet.
  
• 
  There is an imminent need to take action for recycling especially with our rising landfill issues and poor recycling rates. 
  
• 
  Students in schools are our next generation, so bringing sustainability lessons and environmental education into our classrooms is the key to ensure sustainability in Hawaii.
  
• 
  Hawaiiʻs recycling rates are very low, this would help raise those rates.
  
• Hawai'i faces major landfill issues.
• Hawai'i faces major plastic pollution issues.

Why we need to highlight the Bottles4College for Schools Program as a resource for schools:

• 
  In order for the implementation of recycling programs within schools to work, we must be able to provide the schools with resources to do so.
  
• 
  Schools are very busy trying to go through the school year, the Bottles4College program provides comprehensive steps to ensure recycling impact and as an organization, will support these schools.
  
• 
  This program tracks each individual schoolʻs environmental impact reports.
  
• This program brings administrative needs.
• 
  This program creates a safe and encouraging environment for students and faculty alike. 
  
• 
  Focuses on education through efforts, being able to help students take what they learn in the classroom into real life.
  
• 
  Emphasizes Malama and integrates core values of Hawai'i culture into the program.
  

Please feel free to SHARE this message with all your friends and family. Shareable posts will also be up shortly on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bottles4college @ Bottles4College

Please feel free to reach out for any questions. bottles4college@gmail.com808-798-6253

ALOHA,

Genshu Price