Automobiles and Tires

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.  The State of Hawai‘i and the County of Hawai‘i both 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:

• Big Island Scrap Metal - Kona
  74-589 Honokōhau St., Kailua-Kona
  No electronics, microwaves or dishwashers.  Please remove all trash and non-metal items.
  Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  854-4530 (Please call first)
• Big Island Scrap Metal - Shipman
  16-168 Kalara St., Kea‘au
  No electronics, microwaves or dishwashers.  Please remove all trash and non-metal items.
  Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  854-4530 (Please call first)
• Cash4Cars
  28-354 Sugar Mill Rd., Pepe‘ekeo
  808-238-0320 or 808-230-5791
  (Please call first)

County of Hawai‘i Recycling Facilities (only accepting clean - drained of all fluids and all hazardous materials removed - automotive parts, no vehicles)

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

County Facilities are open daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
There is no charge for scrap metal recycling at these County facilities.
For more information call the County of Hawai'i at 961-8552.

The following is the Abandoned Vehicle Procedure:

• 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.

• On private property, please look in the phonebook for a local tow company to haul your vehicle to the nearest Scrap Metal Facility. There are a couple local businesses that will tow your automobile for free, depending on the vehicle and its location. Before they tow away your vehicle, remember to remove the license plates and turn them in along with your registration papers and a completed Application for "Junk" Status Vehicle Form to the Motor Vehicle Registration Division of the County Finance Department (961-8351 Hilo or 323-4818 Kona or 965-2721 Pāhoa).. If you have any questions please contact the County Abandoned Vehicle Program Clerk at 961-8552.

The Derelict Vehicle Amnesty Program has been temporarily suspended. 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 (961-8351 Hilo or 323-4818 Kona or 965-2721 Pāhoa). If you have any questions please contact the County Abandoned Vehicle Program Clerk at 961-8552.

TIRE DISPOSAL

The State of Hawai‘i passed legislation mandating by law the proper disposal and management of waste tires. Effective June 26, 2008, pursuant to 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 (Only with purchase of new tire, fee)
• Lex Brodie's Tire & Service Center (Pahoa), 965-9125 (Only with purchase of new tire, fee)
• Lex Brodie's Tire & Service Center (Kona), 329-8826 (Only with purchase of new tire, fee)
• R & G Tire Center, Inc. (Kona), 331-8920