Hazardous Waste Collection Event in Kona 

The Department of Environmental Management will hold its next Household Hazardous Collection on Saturday, June 10, 2017, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Recycling & Transfer Station.

The public came out in droves to dispose of their used motor oil, paint, poisons, solvents and batteries at the Hilo Hazardous Waste Collection Event on June 3.

It was a record collection event, with over 2,200 gallons of used motor oil, almost double the average of the previous 13 collections.

More than 21,000 pounds of additional hazardous materials were collected and properly disposed of through the county’s contractor, EnviroServices Inc.

Over 500 Hawai‘i County households participated, a 33% increase over the previous Hilo event.

“The County of Hawai‘i Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events give residents a regular opportunity to clean out their homes and garages of hazardous materials knowing that it is being disposed of safely and properly,” said Recycling Specialist III Chris Chin-Chance.

Chin-Chance said these collection programs are key to eliminating illegal dumping of toxic chemicals, and serve to protect the ‘āina and our drinking water.

The department appreciates the public’s patience and kōkua during these extremely popular events.

Hazardous waste collections are based on available funding, and it was only possible to hold two events each this year at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona Recycling & Transfer Stations and one event in March at the Pāhoa and Waimea Recycling & Transfer Stations.

Due to the limited number of county-sponsored events being held, the department strongly recommends that residents participate in the collection events as they occur throughout the year, to prevent stockpiling of hazardous materials in their homes.

Another Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event for Hilo will be held on Dec. 2, 2017.

For additional information about these events, contact Chin-Chance at (808) 961- 8554.