Drop-Off Convenience Centers for Refuse and Recycling

The City and County of Honolulu provides 10 locations around the island for residents to dispose of their household rubbish. Residents may use any of these locations for free. Containers are onsite for the separate collection of different types of materials: combustibles are processed at H-POWER; non-combustibles are taken to landfill; yard waste is hauled to mulching and composting sites; and large appliances, tires and auto batteries are taken to recycling facilities.

Subjects in this section: Click on subject or scroll down for more information.

General Rules and Procedures
Preparing Your Refuse for Disposal and Recycling
Locations and Hours
Household Hazardous Waste

Separate your refuse in advance so that you can unload it into the appropriate bins. Combustible material goes into the bin that will be hauled to H-POWER. Yard waste goes into the bin headed for the composting facility. Non-combustible stuff goes into the bin slated for the landfill.

Return to list of subjects

General Rules and Procedures

Convenience centers are reserved for residential waste material only. Commercial or business refuse (from tree trimmers, roofers, plumbers, small stores, farmers, etc.) is strictly prohibited. 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 your home will be accepted; however, certain items are restricted or prohibited.

When using a Convenience Center, please follow these rules:

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.

Return to list of subjects

Preparing Your Refuse for Disposal and Recycling

The City requests your kokua when preparing your refuse for disposal. Separate your refuse so that you can unload it into the appropriate bins:

Burnable refuse goes into the "Combustible" bin, which is sent on to the H-POWER waste-to-energy plant.
Non-burnable refuse goes into the "Noncombustible" bin, which ends up at the landfill.
Yard waste goes into the "Green Waste" bin, which is delivered to mulching and composting sites.
Large appliances, tires and auto batteries are set off on the side for separate collection and delivery to recycling facilities.

Separate areas are designated at the convenience centers for tires, batteries and large appliances. Metals are transported to the metal recycler; batteries to the battery recycler and tires to the tire recycler. So please read the signs and place materials in the proper locations. Notice the rimmed tires mistakenly dumped in the pile designated for tires without rims.

Upon arrival, please follow the attendant's instructions.

Acceptable Refuse for "Combustible" bin:
Paper, cardboard, cloth, plastic
Plastic bags of trash (unless filled with noncombustible refuse)
Wood (2x4 size or smaller; maximum 4' length)
Roofing material (wood shingles and asphalt paper)

Acceptable Refuse for "Noncombustible" bin:
Metal, glass
Mattresses, furniture, appliances*
Rugs, carpeting
Tires (limit 4 per load)
Lumber (larger than 2x4 size; maximum 4' length)
Drywall, plywood panels
Roofing materials (tile)

Acceptable Material for the "Green Waste" bin:
Grass, leaves, branches
Hedge and tree trimmings
Stumps, logs
Banana cuttings, coconuts, palm fronds
Untreated lumber, untreated pallets

Separate Storage Areas are provided at each site for the following recyclable materials:
Freon appliances — refrigerators, air conditioners
Non-freon appliances — washers, dryers, heaters, stoves
Tires
Auto batteries
Propane tanks

Restricted Items:
Large appliances — 2 per month
Tires — 4 per month
Auto batteries — 2 per month
Drywall — 5 sheets per day
Plywood — 5 sheets per day

Prohibited Materials:
Business/commercial and farm/agricultural refuse
Dirt, rock, sand, concrete, asphalt
Liquids, oils, greases
Wet kitchen garbage
Animal carcasses and waste products
Large automobile parts
Explosives and weapons
Hazardous or toxic waste
Wet paints, solvents
Poisons, pesticides, herbicides
Medical waste
Compressed gas cylinders (oxygen, acetylene, etc.)