Free Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events Scheduled for March

Hawai‘i County will host two free residential household hazardous waste collection events — one in Waimea and the other in Pāhoa.

The Department of Environmental Management holds these regular collections so households can conveniently dispose of acceptable household hazardous waste in a manner that protects both public health and the environment.

One of the collections will take place at the Waimea Recycling and Transfer Station on March 6 and the other will take place at the Pāhoa Recycling and Transfer Station on March 7. Both events will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Acceptable household hazardous waste includes automotive fluids, used batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and pesticides. For a complete list of acceptable or unacceptable household hazardous waste, click here.

The website includes other useful information on solid waste diversion and recycling. These events are for household-generated and self-hauled waste only. Business, government agencies, nonprofit agencies, or farm wastes are prohibited by law. No latex paint, no electronic waste, and no tires will be accepted.

Social/Physical Distancing Rules for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Events:

• Remain in your vehicle unless directed by authorized personnel.
  Prior to arriving at the event, place your HHW items in your trunk or truck bed. Make sure your trunk can be unlocked or opened remotely. If you don’t have a trunk or truck bed, it is preferred that you place your materials in the unlocked and unoccupied backseat area.
• The County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
• Due to infection transmission hazards, all containers brought to the event will not be returned and should be disposable. If you want to keep your container, transfer the material into a safe disposable container prior to the event.
• To minimize interactions, please label your HHW items (if possible) and make sure that your HHW items are easily distinguishable and separate from anything else in your trunk or truck bed.
• Facial masks covering the nose and mouth and six feet of social distancing are required.
• If you are under quarantine, feeling ill, or showing symptoms of illness, please consider postponing your participation in our event or designate someone else to drop off your materials.

For questions regarding these HHW collection events, contact Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Specialist with the Department of Environmental Management, at 808-961-8554, or email recycle3@hawaiicounty.gov.