MILILANI, Hawaii -- Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Monday night hosted the first of seven community meetings across Oahu on developing an islandwide recycling system.

The first meeting was at Mililani Mauka Elementary.

Mililani was the location for a city recycling pilot project several years ago.

"The one bottom line is we're all very concerned of how we preserve our precious aina, how we are more caring of our environment," Hannemann said.

Mililani resident Shayne Kitano said he turned out to set a good example for his children.

"We're living on an island, so we've got to do something about it. I think everyone living out there can do a small part and make a big difference," Kitano said.

A little more than one-third of Oahu residents recycle, according to new research presented by the city.

One of his proposals discussed at the meeting was a curbside recycling program that would offer one regular trash pickup per week and once-a-week curbside collection of green waste and household recyclables. A second, optional trash pickup would cost residents an additional $10 a month.

The proposal got mixed reactions.

"In the long run we're going to have to pay for it somewhere -- landfill, exporting it somewhere, whatever it's going to be so we might as well pay now," Kitano said.

"I'm not really in favor of the fee because I think that the government reaches deep enough into our pocket now," Mililani resident Doug Thomas said.

Hannemann is hosting another six meetings throughout Oahu.

Public Recycling Meetings:

Monday: 7-8:30 p.m. Mililani Mauka Elementary School

April 24: 7-8:30 p.m. Kaiser High School

April 25: 7-8:30 p.m. Kahuku Elementary School

May 8: 7-8:30 p.m. Mission Memorial Auditorium

May 10: 7-8:30 p.m. Windward Community College

May 21: 7-8:30 p.m. Kapolei Hale

The city is inviting high school leaders for a meeting on Saturday May 12.