Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 6, 1 June 1996 — Molokaʻiʻs ʻōpala is company's "dolla" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Molokaʻiʻs ʻōpala is company's "dolla"

by Patrick Johnston For most of us garbage represents money spent. For Dennis Borden it is money earned. Borden, one of OHA's first loan fund recipients, is manager and part owner of Island Refuse ine.,

a private garbage collector on Moloka'i. Now 12 years old, it is the only private collector on the island and the only outfit

that does large commercial piek ups. It shares the residential load with the county. "The county used to do it all," Borden explains, "Now the county will not piek up more than six bags per ā6tt)uht. That rules out most large operations." Most of Jsland Refuse's accounts āre stores, hotels and farmers. It also does piek up for state and county parks and loeal schools. The company truck travels the entire length of the island, from the hotels of the west, to the outposts on the east. It services 135 accounts in all. Island Refuse consists of one front loading truck driven by Borden's sons, a

small staff and sometimes Borden himself. Borden says a second truck is on its way. All of the maintenance work is done by family members saving significant costs on outside repair bills. Borden started lsland Refuse with 1 his four brothers in 1984.

& Skilled at operating h meehanieal equipment, W they all pitched in money ^ at the time and bought a truck. Their sister-in-law

Felicidad helpcd out by doing the accounting. In 1989 they eame to OHA looking to expand. They were part of the program in its early days and were one of the first to pay back their loan in full.

Borden says the secret to the success of his business has been service. Unlike the county, he must charge customers to piek up their garbage. However, most clients - even those who could have the county do it - prefer to pay for the regular and reliable service he offers. "I serve the accounts real good. I give them what they need." Island Refuse charges $18 a piek up

and offers up to three piek ups a week. Asked about the job of running a trash

co!lector Borden says, "It's a lot of work, but we enjoy doing this kind of stuff."

1 hey must like it. I heir company motto has always been: "Your 'ōpala is my dolla." Island Refuse ean be reached in Moloka'i at 553-3221. For information about the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund eall 594-1888.

"I serve the accounts real good. I give them what they need." - Dennis Borden

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lsland Refuse's Dennis Borden (right) and staff Charles Kamai (left) and Byron Bush (center) beside the lsland Refuse garbage collector. Photo by Patrick Johnston