When the economy falters, people buy less and manufacturers ramp down their production. And when that happens, they're not buying raw materials for the factories.

The recycled commodities market has suffered as a result, with prices falling sharply for metals and plastic in particular. Plastic — itself a petroleum product — is becoming cheaper because of the tumble in the price of oil. Now global prices for virgin plastic have fallen by two-thirds, so the demand for the recycled material has plummeted as well.

If there's a plus side, it's that vandals are now less inclined to steal copper wiring.

In some parts of the country, the slump has taken its toll on municipal recycling programs. West Virginia's Kanawha County, for example, has suspended collection of recyclables because of market doldrums. There, residents have been asked to hold their own materials while the county seeks ways to trim costs, but other towns are opting for the cheap answer: dumping.

Thankfully, Honolulu shows no signs it will curtail its current curbside collections or delay the program's expansions. Recycling is an imperative for O'ahu, where the limitations of the island environment make recycling an essential component of waste management.

It's also apparent that the state's HI-5¢ program, allotting a handling fee for conractors, is softening the blow somewhat. That program also needs to remain part of the Islands' solution.

In the next round of bidding for contracts in the next year, the city and recyclers should discuss ways of improving efficiencies to help weather the downturn. That may enable Honolulu more easily to stay the course toward expanded recycling.