The County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division, announces the temporary closure of services to some of its facilities until further notice.

The first closures for the Hāwī and Keauhou facilities will go into effect Tuesday, August 31, and the first closures for Hilo, Kea‘au, and Pāhoa facilities will start Wednesday, September 1.  Thereafter, and until further notice, the facilities will follow this schedule:

Hāwī and Keauhou:
Open: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Closed: Tuesday, Thursday

Hilo, Kea‘au, and Pāhoa
Open: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Closed: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

These closures are being taken as precaution by the County of Hawai‘i in its ongoing efforts to address the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the community, and for the health and safety of employees and the public.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.  Visit hawaiizerowaste.org and register for Solid Waste Notifications (via email or text) for future closure information and locations, or call our Solid Waste Division Office at 961-8270

COVID-19 transfer station closures – Frequently asked questions

County of Hawai‘i – September 1, 2021

Why are you doing this?

Unfortunately we are experiencing a high number of staff calling in to take precautionary measures such as quarantine due to potential exposure. We are forced to take temporary measures to limit the spread of the virus in our community.

Employees are working on alternate sides of the island on alternate days and therefore we do not have staff to keep the regular schedule.  Our employees are essential. We cannot compromise on their health or safety and bring them back to work until the proper protocols are followed.  As soon as staff come back and we are able to do so we will go back to the regular schedule.  It is a very difficult time for all businesses right now with the increase in cases and we are no different.  Please bear with us and know that this decision was based on shortage of staff and is out of our hands.

Under the requirements of our operating permit from the Department of Health, transfer stations must be staffed. COVID-19 cases are spiking in our community, and is affecting our ability to provide full staffing to the solid waste division transfer stations in our community. Already this week we have had to deal with the closure of the Volcano Transfer Station and the suspension of white goods collections in East Hawaii. We need to get a handle on these unscheduled closures, and are doing so by scheduling closures on alternating weekdays in East Hawaii and West Hawaii.

Why was there so little advance notice?

Advance notice was not an option as the number of call-ins was unforeseen. We need to ensure continuity of operations at our transfer stations, including the logistics of compacting, transporting, and landfilling, even if it is at a reduced level of service. We had to react to the shortage and find a way to continue our services with the limited staff we have on hand. We understand this is an inconvenience for the community and extra burden on the employees we do have on hand to deal with the increased workflow with the condensed schedule. It is necessary to manage our workforce in a way that protects them and our County’s Solid Waste Operations.

What can I do to be prepared?

• Visit the website org and click on the FACILITIES tab to see which transfer stations near you are scheduled to be open on a particular day.
• Sign up on the website to receive Solid Waste Division announcements.
• Be mindful of the amount of waste you generate and minimize your disposable trash to the greatest extent possible.
• Please be courteous to our hardworking Solid Waste Division employees and do not litter by leaving your waste outside any of the gates.

Mahalo and we apologize for the temporary inconvenience.