Q. What's going to happen with those community recycling bins all over O'ahu now that the HI-5 deposit law has made some bottles and cans worth more than others?

A. City recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones said those big white city-sponsored bins at 80 locations across the island are still collecting bottles, cans, newspapers and other non-deposit recyclables. Since the state's HI-5 program added a nickel deposit on most beverage containers last year, the city has worked to better secure the bins so people don't take out containers left by others.

Jones said the city plans to sign a new contract in the coming months and would like to hear from schools or organizations that would like a new bin next year. She said they will likely receive more money to reflect the value of the deposit rather than just the materials recycled.

Jones said the city hopes to get 40 more organizations to sponsor the permanent bins. And it is also looking for schools, churches or other organizations interested in a new HI-5 fundraiser bin that will be mobile and designed to securely collect the deposit containers. The bins would be get picked up on a schedule or after an event and the sponsors get the money for what is collected.

Jones would like to hear from schools, churches or other organizations that might be interested in visits from the new HI-5 bins (call 692-5410 or e-mail through the city recycling Web site at www.opala.org).

She said this may be a good option for schools that want to collect but don't have storage or experienced volunteers: "They'll get the full 5 cents back. They won't have to transport or stand in line."

Q. I noticed the school bins tell you to put just the glass jars and bottles in them without a bag, but sometimes that means the glass breaks when I drop it in. Isn't that a waste?

A. Even when the glass breaks it is recycled, Jones said. "The breakage is not as significant as one might think," she said. "All of the glass is crushed in order to recycle it." She said it's more important to not use bags in the recycling bins because the loose containers settle in the bin more evenly, allowing more to fit in. If bags are used, they need to be removed by hand, slowing down the whole system.