BUSINESS BRIEFS
State penalizes RRR Recycling
Advertiser Staff
The state Health Department levied a $32,140 fine against Rolloffs Hawai'i Inc. for failing to comply with deposit beverage container requirements.
From Feb. 9, 2006, through May 23, 2007, Rolloffs Hawai'i Inc., doing business as RRR Recycling Services Hawai'i, violated numerous deposit beverage container requirements at multiple certified redemption centers in Honolulu, according to state health officials.
RRR Recycling failed to remove deposit beverage containers from customers' bags, boxes or bins for inspection before weighing and redeeming the containers; failed to inspect beverage containers for the required HI-5¢ label; accepted customers' reported container counts without verifying their accuracy; failed to post the refund values for each type of container material according to the containers' per pound rates as issued by the DOH; and failed to post certification signs and hours of operation that could be viewed by the public.
The state performed multiple inspections at several RRR Recycling facilities, performed follow-up inspections, and sent the company warning letters before assessing an administrative penalty. RRR Recycling has requested an administrative hearing to contest the complaint and order.
TESORO NAMES EXECUTIVE VP
Everett Lewis, who worked as an executive in Hawai'i's oil refining industry, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Tesoro Corp.
San Antonio-based Tesoro operates Hawai'i's largest refinery.
Lewis, with 38 years of refining experience, joined Tesoro in 1999 as senior vice president for strategic projects. Before joining Tesoro, he worked in and consulted for the refining industry, including managing the BHP refinery in Kapolei that was later bought by Tesoro. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Hawai'i.
"We are a dynamic organization that challenges our employees to take on new responsibilities," said Bruce Smith, Tesoro's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We believe these moves provide tremendous development opportunities for our employees and strengthen the company's management for our shareholders."
HELPING HAWAIIANS START CAREERS
The Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce has donated $20,000 to Popoho Na Pe'a, a consortium of education and community organizations, designed to provide career planning services to Hawaiian youth and adults living in Hawaiian communities.
It is a pilot project which started in Papakolea and has branched out to other Hawaiian communities. The object of the program is to help Hawaiian youth and adults identify their skills and talents for education and workforce development so they can obtain jobs and become self-supporting, according to a news release from the NHCC.
NHCC said its $20,000 donation provided the initial seed money and was instrumental in getting support from organizations such as OHA and Kamehameha Schools.
HOSPITALS GET $17.7M FOR UNINSURED
The state's private hospitals have received about $17.7 million in federal and state funding to help with the cost of charity care for uninsured patients.
The money includes $10 million in federal funding obtained by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka from the Disproportionate Share Hospital payment program and $7.7 million in matching state funds. The money will go to 15 hospitals in the state.
