Metal, appliance recycling services closed at some East Hawaiʻi transfer stations

Some transfer stations in East Hawai‘i will temporarily shutter their metal and appliance recycling services effective immediately because of an emergency at Big Island Scrap Metal in Kea‘au.

The scrap metal business is Hawai‘i County’s contracted metal recycling partner.

It suffered a large industrial fire Wednesday morning after a compactor set a mound of scrap metal and tires ablaze when crushing a car in its scrap metal recycling yard at its location in the W.H. Shipman Business Park between Hilo and Kea’au, mauka (west) of Highway 11.

Hawai‘i County Department of Environmental Management announced Wednesday afternoon that metal and appliance recycling services are temporarily closed at the transfer stations in:

• Honokaʻa.
• Laupāhoehoe.
• Volcano.
• Pāhala.
• Waiʻōhinu.

Pāhoa, Kea‘au and Hilo transfer stations will continue to accept metal and appliances until their collection bins reach capacity. Metals and appliances sections at those facilities will temporarily close, however, once their collection bins reach maximum capacity.

Environmental Management is actively monitoring the situation and in communication with Big Island Scrap Metal.

Once the business resumes operations, metal and appliance recycling services will be restored and the public will be notified.

Contact Environmental Management at 808-961-8270 or visit the department’s website if you have any questions.