Abandoned automobiles and tires not only take away from the natural beauty of Hawai'i but also may contain toxic substances such as fuels, metals, oils, and coolants that can end up on the ground. When it rains, these substances are then flushed into our waterways. Mercury is particularly dangerous, even in very small quantities, because when it's released to the atmosphere and returns to earth as rainfall it endangers aquatic life and public health. Recently, the County of Hawai‘i passed legislation mandating by law the proper disposal and management of waste tires.

AUTOMOBILE DISPOSAL

Automobiles can be recycled at the scrap metal area at the following locations:

• Kealakehe Recycling Point and Transfer Station
• Hilo Recycling Point and Transfer Station

Open daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
For more information call the County of Hawai'i at 961-8552 or call Big Island Scrap Metal at 935-9328.

On public roadways abandoned automobiles may be removed by calling the Hawai'i Police Department at 935-3311. Provide the location and description of the vehicle. To download the Abandoned Vehicle Procedure click here.

On private property, please look in the phonebook for a local tow company to haul your vehicle to the nearest Scrap Metal Facility. Before they tow away your vehicle remember to remove the license plates and turn them in along with your registration papers and completed Application for "Junk" Status Vehicle Form to the Motor Vehicle Registration Division of the County Finance Department. If you have any questions please contact the County Abandoned Vehicle Program Clerk at 961-8552.

TIRE DISPOSAL

Recently, the State of Hawai`i has passed legislation to mandate by law the proper disposal and management of waste tires. Effective June 26, 2008, pursuant to the County of Hawai`i Ordinance No. 07-182, the County prohibited disposal of tires that are whole, cut, sliced, chipped or shredded at both sanitary landfills and all island-wide transfer stations.

The County of Hawai`i is not collecting residential generated tires and is not accepting tires at the scrap metal yards in Hilo and Kona.

For residents purchasing new tires through a retailer, the tires being replaced should be left with the retailer. Residents needing to dispose of tires can contact the following vendors for proper disposal. Please call vendors to verify how many tires that they can take and any fees that might be involved.

• Arizumi Tire Disposal (Island-wide service), 443-3469 or 969-7130
• Leo's Rubbish Service (Hilo), 935-5850
• Sear's Automotive (Hilo), 981-4095
• Goodyear Auto Service Centers (Hilo), 935-9756
• Lex Brodie's Tire & Service Center (Hilo), 961-6001
• Lex Brodie's Tire & Service Center (Pahoa), 965-9125
• Lex Brodie's Tire & Service Center (Kona), 329-8826
• R & G Tire Center, Inc. (Kona), 331-8920

For community clean up projects, please submit a request for County assistance to the Director of Environmental Management, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI 96720 or cohdem@co.hawaii.hi.us.