ENV(Department of Environmental Services )

Oahu recycling rates are above the national average and Honolulu ranks among the top cities in the country in landfill diversion. By employing both recycling and waste-to-energy, more than 70% of Oahu's municipal solid waste is being diverted from Waimanalo Gulch Landfill. Expansions to the H-POWER waste-to-energy plant and increases in recycling will further decrease what goes to landfill.

Drop-Off Convenience Centers for Refuse and Recycling

The City and County of Honolulu provides 10 public refuse drop-off locations: six (6) convenience centers, three (3) transfer stations and one (1) landfill around the island for residents to dispose of their household rubbish. Residents may use any of these locations free of charge.Delivery vehicles are limited to pickup trucks, mini-vans or automobiles. Business-owned vehicles are permitted, provided they are limited to the above types and are delivering residential waste. In order to provide convenience to all, no more than two loads per resident will be allowed per day. Most items from home will be accepted; however, certain items are restricted or prohibited.

General Rules and Procedures

Plan your delivery.
Separate your combustibles, noncombustibles and green waste. Upon your arrival, the convenience center security guard/attendant will inspect your load and instruct you to deposit your materials in the appropriate refuse bins/storage areas.

Obey the security guard's instructions.
The success of the City’s recycling program depends on everyone’s cooperation. Depositing rubbish in the wrong bins will contaminate recyclables and could affect your convenience center privileges in the future.

Make room for others.
Cut or breakdown long, large items, such as tree branches, empty boxes, lumber and pipes, so that they will fit compactly in the refuse bins. Remember, convenience centers have a limited capacity.

Think safety at all times.
Drive slowly, watch for directions by the security guard and obey all traffic control signs and pavement markings. While unloading your vehicle, be careful of your footing. Children and pets must remain inside of vehicles at all times.

Set a good example for others.
Clean up after you’re done. Picking up rubbish around your vehicle will help to keep the convenience center clean.

Be patient.
If the convenience center is closed, consider using the City landfill, refuse transfer station, another convenience center or return later. Heavy usage or mechanical breakdowns can cause temporary, unscheduled closures.

Business Recycling

Many Oahu businesses are already engaged in recycling. Recycling at work can reduce costs as well as reduce waste on Oahu. Most Oahu businesses are affected by one or more of the City's mandatory recycling laws or regulations. If your business needs assistance in getting started or improving your recycling program.

Condo and Apartment Recycling

The City is offering startup cost reimbursement and use of 64-gallon recycling carts - see links above for details. Pre-approval is required to confirm eligibility of planned expenditures and availability of funds.

Recycling offers condominiums and apartments an opportunity to lower refuse costs. If your building or complex throws all of the mixed waste into a rubbish dumpster, the refuse bill includes both hauling charges and disposal charges. On the other hand, since many recyclable materials have a market value, they can often be hauled away at no charge. And with less waste in the dumpster, there is an opportunity to reduce refuse costs.

We recommend that you start with HI-5 beverage containers. Since the inception of the Beverage Container Deposit law in 2005, the increased value of the beverage containers may allow your condo to establish a low-cost to no-cost recycling program, depending upon the quantity of deposit beverage containers your building or complex can offer to a collector.

Adding newspaper and non-deposit glass and plastic, after your HI-5 collection program is established, can reduce disposal costs by decreasing the number of dumpsters and/or the pickup frequency. Include yard trimmings (green waste) in your plan, especially if you are generating significant volumes. Greenwaste would be handled separately.

Choosing which materials to recycle is a key factor to setting up a successful, cost-effective recycling program. Each type of recyclable material has a different market value. Revenue derived from materials with a high value, such as the HI-5 beverage containers, normally will cover collection costs from your facility. While the market price for newspaper will not cover pickup costs, the cost can be counter-balanced by a reduction in your refuse disposal costs.

It may be better to offer all of your recyclables to the same collector so the higher value materials can help defray the costs of the lower value materials.

• Business/commercial and farm/agricultural refuse
• Dirt, rock, sand, concrete, asphalt (take to City landfill)
• Liquids, oils, greases
• Wet kitchen garbage
• Animal carcasses and waste products (take to City landfill, see instructions in Landfill section)
• Large automobile parts
• Explosives and weapons
• Hazardous or toxic waste
• Wet paints, solvents
• Poisons, pesticides, herbicides
• Medical waste
• Compressed gas cylinders (oxygen, acetylene, etc.)