Get rid of household hazardous waste in August

Hawai‘i County will host free household hazardous waste collection events in Hilo and Kona in August.

The first collection will take place Saturday at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium parking lot, located at 323 Manono St. in Hilo. Residents are asked to enter the parking lot via Kuawa Street.

The second collection will be held Aug. 17 at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway.

Both collection events will take place between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

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

These events are for household-generated and self-hauled waste only. Business, government agency, non-profit agency, or farm wastes are prohibited by law. Latex paint, electronic waste, and tires will not be accepted.

Rules for Household Hazardous Waste Collection events:

• Remain in your vehicle unless directed by authorized personnel.
• Before 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.
• 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 before the event.
• 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.
• If you are 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 about the collections contact Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Specialist with the Department of Environmental Management, at 808-961-8554, or email recycle3@hawaiicounty.gov.