Kauai Recycling Bins
Kaua’i has eight locations around the island to recycle your plastics, aluminum, glass, cardboard, newspaper, and mixed paper.
#1 and #2 Plastics
- #1 Plastic usually includes water, beer, soda bottles, and other single use beverage containers
- #2 Plastic usually includes gallon milk jugs, laundry detergent containers, and shampoo bottles
- remove lids
- drain containers
- labels are okay
Aluminum
- no tin food cans paints or aerosols
- drain all liquids
- do not place bags in the bin
- cans only-no foil wrap of food containers
Glass
- remove caps and lids
- paper labels are okay
- drain all liquids
- windows and mirrors okay
- no light bulbs, television monitors, or other composit materials
Cardboard
- corrugated cardboard only
- no wet or solid cardboard
- break down boxes to conserve space in the bin
- remove tape and strapping
Newspapers
- remove rubber bands and plastic bags
- do not bundle or bag
- glossy newspaper inserts okay
- NO magazines or junk mail (recycle with mixed paper)
Mixed Paper
- white and colored paper
- envelopes (windows are okay) and paper mail (including “junk mail”)
- magazines, catalogs, and glossy paper
- phone books and paperback books
- box board (cereal boxes, soda boxes)
- Staples OK, NO binder clips, rubber bands or paper clips
- NO fluorescent papers, carbon papers, or hard cover bound books.
Recycling Bin Locations
- Hanalei – at the Hanalei Transfer Station
- Kapa’a - at the end of Kahau Road past the Kapaa Armory near Farmer’s Market
- Lihu’e – in the back of the K-Mart parking lot on the pavilion side of the store
- Po’ipu – in the Brenneke’s Parking Lot
- Lawai – at the Post Office
- Ele’ele – at the Ele’ele Shopping Center
- Waimea – at the Waimea Canyon Park
- Kekaha – at the Kekaha Landfill
For more information, visit the county’s Kauai recycling website.
Kauai Recycling and Chemicals
Hazardous household chemicals are waste materials that (if improperly handled) can cause harm to human health and safety, and to the environment as well. These “household hazardous waste” products are usually labeled as corrosive, flammable, explosive, or poisonous, and should not be poured down drains, septic tanks, storm sewers, or on the ground. Sewage treatment plants cannot process them, septic tanks and cesspools can be damaged by them, storm drains flow directly to the ocean – polluting the groundwater or the sea. Here are some examples:
From the Garage:
- Gasoline and other fuel
- Antifreeze
- Brake and transmission fluid
- Car wax or polish
- Auto care products
- Rust inhibitors
- Automotive batteries
From the Hobby Area:
- Oil Based Paints
- Wood preservatives
- Stains
- Paint thinners
- Paint strippers
- Household batteries
- Solvents
- Photo Chemicals
From the House:
- Florescent Light Bulbs
- Aerosol sprays
- Drain cleaners
- Ammonia based cleaners
- Oven cleaners
- Furniture polish
- Deodorizers
- Mothballs
- Floor wax
- Insect repellants
- Batteries
From the Yard:
- Pesticides
- Weed killers
- Swimming pool chemicals
- Insect spray
- Fungicides
The best thing to do is buy only what you need, and use what you buy. Consider reducing your purchase of products that contain hazardous ingredients. Learn about the use of alternative methods or products without hazardous ingredients. Kauai conducts annual Household Hazardous Waste collections for residents (not commercial). If you have hazardous items that you need to dispose of please contact the County Recycling Office at 241-4841 to be notified of the next scheduled event. For more information, visit the county’s Kauai recycling website.
Kauai Recycling and HI5
Almost one billion beverage containers are sold each year in Hawai’i. We can help by recycling as many of these containers as possible. If not, they will often be discarded as waste or litter in our community. The HI-5 Recycling Program acts as an incentive by refunding 5¢ for each container returned to a redemption center in – Hanalei, Kilauea, Lihue, Kapahi, Nawiliwili, Koloa, Lawai, or Kekaha.
How to Prepare HI-5 Containers:
- Look for containers labeled: HI 5¢, HAWAII 5¢, Hawaii 5¢.
- Empty containers of liquid, food, or trash.
- Remove caps from all bottles.
- Sort by material type – plastic, glass, aluminum, and bi-metal
- Aluminum and plastic may be crushed (except at reverse vending machines).
If we all participate in the HI-5 Recycling Program:
- We can save resources and energy.
- We can reduce litter and trash in our ‘āina.
- We can prolong the life of our landfills.
- We can raise money for schools or groups.
- We can reduce pollution and protect our parks and beaches.
- We can protect wildlife and their natural habitats.
For more information, visit the county’s Kauai recycling website.
Kauai Recycling and Composting
Composting is nature’s own way of recycling. It is the controlled decomposition of organic material such as leaves, twigs, grass clippings, and vegetable food waste. It also helps to keep the high volume of organic material out of landfills while turning it into a useful product. A recent waste study shows that over 30% of the household waste on Kaua’i is compostable organic waste.
With compost, you are creating rich humus for your lawn and garden, adding nutrients to your plants, and helping retain moisture in the soil. You are also introducing beneficial organisms to the soil. Microscopic organisms in compost help aerate the soil, break down organic material for plant use, and ward off plant disease. Composting offers a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers, making it good for the environment.
There are several methods for creating and maintaining a simple and effective home composting system. If you’re interested in a home composting bin, please call the County Recycling Office at 241-5120 to make an appointment to watch a 20 minute training video and pickup a free composting bin.
Examples of compost ingredients:
Carbon (brown dry organic matter)
- dried leaves
- shredded paper
- wood chips
- dried grass
Nitrogen (wet green organic matter)
- fruit peelings
- kitchen vegetable scraps
- coffee grounds
- fresh plants
For more information, visit the county’s Kauai recycling website.
Kauai Recycling and Reusable Grocery Bags
In an ongoing effort to reduce waste, Kauai is distributing 25,000 reusable shopping bags to residents free of charge. These bags are made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, washable, durable, and hold a large volume of groceries.
In October of 2009, the County of Kauai passed the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance requiring all retail establishments to provide only recyclable paper bags, biodegradable bags, and/or reusable bags to their customers. Retailers are allowed to recover the cost of bags by charging customers. This new law will take effect on January 11th, 2011.
Kauai residents are entitled to two free canvas reusable shopping bags until the supply runs out. The criteria to receive free bags requires individuals to:
- be a Kauai resident
- sign a pledge stating that they would use the bags in place of disposable paper or plastic bags while grocery shopping
- use the honor system of taking only 2 bags per person
- read the sheet describing the product they are using
The bags will be available at these partnering stores soon:
Big Save – Hanalei, Kapa‘a, Lihue, Koloa, Waimea, ‘Ele‘ele
Papaya’s – Hanalei, Kapa‘a
Foodland – Hanalei, Kapa‘a
Healthy Hut – Kilauea
Kilauea Market – Kilauea
Kojima Store – Kapa‘a
Hoku Whole Foods – Kapa‘a
Safeway – Kapa‘a
Times Supermarket – Lihue
Sueoka Store – Koloa
Kukui‘ula Market – Koloa
Ishihara Market – Waimea
Menehune Food Mart – Kekaha, Kalaheo, Lawai
Thrifty Mart – Kekaha, Kaumakani
For more information, visit the county’s Kauai recycling website.
Kauai Recycling and Motor Oil
Here is how to recycle your used motor oil if you are a do-it-yourselfer on Kauai. After draining the oil from your car’s crankcase, pour the motor oil into a clean container, preferably the original motor oil containers. Never use containers that held household chemicals such as bleach, gasoline, or solvents as it can become a hazardous waste. Make sure that the container has a secure lid so it cannot spill. If you are in need of a container, the County is distributing free motor oil containers for draining and recycling used motor oil, which are available at the Kaua’i Resource Center in Lihue. Call 241-5112 or 241-5120 for more information.
Residential motor oil is accepted for recycling at the following locations:
Hanalei Transfer Station – 826-7070
Open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Kapa’a Transfer Station – 822-7334
Open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Lihue Transfer Station – 241-6854
Open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Hanapepe Transfer Station – 335-0624
Open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Kekaha Landfill
Open 7:00 am to 5:30 pm
Acceptable Products:
Crankcase Oil, Gear Oil, Transmission Oil, Power Steering Oil, Diesel Fuel, Lubricating Oil
Unacceptable Products:
Thinners, Gasoline, Carburetor Cleaners, Brake Cleaners, Brake Fluids, Solvents, Anti Freeze, PCB oil, Bleach
Reminder – the program is for home mechanics only. For more information, visit the county’s Kauai recycling website.
