Hazardous Household Waste

There are products in our homes that are highly toxic and extremely hazardous to the environment. These items cannot be easily recycled or disposed of in the landfill due to the risk of contamination of our drinking water, soil and air. Additionally, there are environmentally-friendly options for the proper disposal or recycling of these materials.  The State of Hawai‘i Department of Health also has an Office of Hazard Evaluation & Emergency Response which lists various fact sheets on managing hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants. For more information on electronic waste see our electronic waste page.

Customers should first inquire if manufacturers, producers and retailers of hazardous materials offer take-back options for unused material or products that need disposal.  Consumers should also purchase safer, more environmentally-friendly alternative products such as LED light bulbs or rechargeable batteries to reduce the amount of hazardous materials generated.

Household Hazardous Waste

The County of Hawai‘i promotes proper Hazardous Waste Recycling & Disposal through various program and private efforts.  Select the topic from the list below to learn more.

BUSINESSES, FARMS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES & NON-PROFITS

Please visit our Business, Farm & Agency Hazardous Waste page.

Buy only what you need and properly use it all, there will be less chance your business will need to dispose of leftover hazardous materials.  By law the County of Hawai‘i cannot accept hazardous waste from businesses, agencies, farms and non-profits.

HAZMAT DISPOSAL OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS

Various businesses offer collections of select hazardous materials in limited quantities:

Location Types Of Materials Accepted (limits) Address & Phone
Mr. K’s Recycle & Redemption Center lead-acid batteries (including automotive, solar system and UPS batteries) – scrap value (per pound rate varies, call for current rate) paid to you
alkaline primary battery recycling pilot project (Hilo only)
Hilo – 815 Kino‘ole St.
Kailua-Kona – 73-5631 Kauhola St.
(808) 969-1222 (call first)
DALECO lead-acid batteries (including automotive, solar system and UPS batteries); FREE (disposal & pick up in service area) 74-5546C Kaiwi St., Kailua-Kona
(808) 329-4605
O’Reilly Auto Parts lead-acid batteries (including automotive and solar system batteries); may give store credit for recycled battery 2100 Kanoelehua St., Hilo (808) 959-1221
74-5586 Palani Rd., Kona (808) 326-2211
Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Contact your specific electric vehicle manufacturer to recycle the EV battery via their “Full Vehicle Backstop” programs
Home Depot rechargeable power tool batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). FREE (Next to the Customer Service Counter)
AKW Environmental various hazardous materials (808) 430-2339
Big Island Scrap Metal automotive batteries 16-168 Kalara St., Kea‘au, (808) 854-4530
74-589 Honokōhau St., Kailua-Kona, (808) 854-4530
Interstate Batteries of Hawai‘i Lead-acid and deep cycle batteries, including solar batteries and uninterruptible power supply batteries (UPS) – scrap value paid to you; call for quote; If a large quantity generator would like to request pick-up service call for fee quote 194 Wiwo‘ole St. – Hilo
(808) 934-7256
Napa Auto Parts automotive batteries (fee) 64-1019 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea
(808) 885-6000
Battery Bill’s Lead-acid batteries (including automotive & solar system), other types of batteries.  Call for price quote. 76A Kea‘a St., Hilo
(808) 498-0698
State of Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture – Pesticide Disposal Program Pesticide disposal program for farms and other commercial users of pesticides to safely dispose of canceled, suspended, unwanted or unlabeled pesticides. This Pesticides Disposal Program (PDP) is only for commercial operations such as farms, licensed pest control operators, certified applicators and also state and county agencies. There are some restrictions (see list of acceptable and unacceptable pesticides). Household pesticides will not be accepted under this program. The registration form and PDP information are available on the HDOA website at:  https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/main/pesticide-disposal-program/.

Questions regarding the program and registration assistance should be directed to: EnviroServices & Training Center, (808) 456-3494 or email: .

HolidayLEDs.com holiday lights recycling mail-in program. Mail in your string of old holiday lights and receive a coupon for discounts at HolidayLEDs.com.

The State of Hawai‘i Department of Health Solid & Hazardous Waste Branch has fact sheets that list proper disposal procedures and options, check their website at: https://health.hawaii.gov/shwb/hazwaste/

RESIDENTS ONLY – COUNTY COLLECTIONS

Household Hazardous Waste Collections

These collection events are sponsored by the Department of Environmental Management to offer County residential households a safe and environmentally friendly method to dispose of household hazardous waste.  These collection events will accept normal household hazardous materials in normal household quantities only.  By law commercial or industrial materials or quantities will not be accepted at these events and those customers should contact the companies listed on the Business, Farm & Agency Hazardous Waste page for proper disposal options. Certain restrictions/limitations apply.

For self-hauled waste from residential households only.  Safety Rules apply.

Schedule & Locations*:

      • Hilo: Waiākea High School Parking Lot (A) on Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
      • Kailua-Kona:  West Hawai‘i Civic Center Parking Lot (entry via Ane Keohokālole Hwy) on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
      • Puna: Pāhoa Recycling & Transfer Station on Sunday, March 3, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
      • Waimea: Waimea District Park Parking Lot on Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Dates & Locations will be announced here first when they are finalized.
*Note: Tentative schedule is based on contract procurement, funding and compliance with the interisland quarantine restrictions for our O‘ahu-based contractor and other coronavirus restrictions on these types of events.  Mahalo for your understanding.

Customers should pack their items in labeled spill-proof containers (preferably the original containers with label) and be careful when transporting them to the event. Do not mix items unless directed by the material’s label. When at the event please remain in your vehicle in line until authorized personnel come to unload your vehicle. For your safety and the safety of those around you please do not walk your hazardous materials over to the authorized personnel in the restricted area, this precaution is to prevent accidents or spillage and ensure fairness to those already waiting in line. Mahalo for your kōkua.

Safety Rules For Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Events

These rules are for your safety and the safety of the staff conducting these events.  Please kōkua and thank you for doing your part to keep these events safe for all participants.

      • Remain in your vehicle unless directed by authorized personnel.  Please advise staff, when they approach your vehicle, what you want them to collect to make sure they know what to unload.
      • Prior to arriving at the event, place your HHW items in your trunk or truck bed.  Make sure your trunk can be unlocked or opened remotely, practice doing so at home.  If you don’t have a trunk or truck bed, preferably place your materials in unlocked unoccupied backseat area.
      • No container returns.  Due to infection transmission hazard all containers brought to the event will not be returned and should be disposable.  If you want to keep your container transfer the material into a safe disposable container prior to the event.
      • To minimize interactions, please label your HHW items (if possible) and make sure that your HHW items are easily distinguishable and separate from anything else in your trunk or truck bed.  Hiding HHW items under or amongst regular garbage only slows the process and may result in missed items.
      • Six (6) foot physical distancing is recommended.
      • If you are under government ordered quarantine or isolation, feeling ill or showing symptoms of illness please consider postponing your participation in our event or designate someone else to drop off your materials.
      • You may pull over to the side of the event area safely after the drop-off area to check that your trunk/tailgate is closed properly or if the staff may have inadvertently missed an item.

If you cannot make it to one of our events or if you have something that is not acceptable at our events there are private companies that can service your needs for a fee. Please refer to the Business, Farm & Agency Hazardous Waste page for immediate disposal options.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Flyer

WHAT’S ACCEPTED:

      • Automotive fluids (including antifreeze/engine coolant, used motor oil, gasoline, diesel, lubricants, brake fluid, fuel additives and engine cleaners). 10 gallon limit for any automotive fluids.  No container size greater than 5 gallons allowed.
        • Limited quantities of do-it-yourself used motor oil are accepted at year-round DIY UMO collection  sites, click on link for more info.  No business, farm or agency allowed.
      • corrosives (acids & bases)
      • all types of household batteries (alkaline, NiCad, NiMH, Li-ion (Lithium), lead-acid (automotive) and etc.).  Please place duct or electrical tape over the terminals of batteries ≥ 9 volts to prevent accidental fire risk.
      • certain types of household flammable liquids (kerosene, home heating oil or lighter fluid – e.g. butane)
      • unbroken fluorescent bulbs (tubes & CFLs) and chemical ballasts (pre-1979, label states “PCB”). Instructions on how to safely clean up broken fluorescent bulbs. green-tip fluorescent bulbs still contain mercury.
      • residential unit UV water disinfection bulbs (≤ 25W, mercury-containing)
      • mercury thermometers
      • unused or outdated prescription medications (no illicit/controlled substances or sharps & needles)  Hawai‘i Medication Drop-Box Program or PSI’s Got Leftover Medication Info Sheet
      • toxic aerosol canisters
      • household non-empty compressed gas cylinders/canisters (e.g. propane. Commercial quantities (> 5 gallons) or types of gas not accepted. Empty cylinders are not acceptable, take to Scrap Metal company)
      • oil-based paint, varnishes & stains. liquid lead-based paints.  paint thinner/turpentine.  wood preservatives. chemical paint removers.
      • toxic garden supplies (herbicides, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides)
      • household poisons (e.g. insecticides, bug spray, household rodenticide)
      • photoelectric smoke detectors (must clearly state “photoelectric” (only) type detector. “ionization” or combination with “ionization” type detector not accepted.)
      • miscellaneous hazardous or toxic household products (e.g. drain cleaners, pool chemicals, bleach)

WHAT’s NOT ACCEPTED:

For information on proper disposal of other hazardous materials not listed above, contact the County HazMat Disposal Infoline at (808) 961-8554 or Greg Perry, with EnviroServices at (808) 330-1604. For immediate disposal options (for a fee) please refer to the Business, Farm & Agency Hazardous Waste page.

Download Attachments

County of Hawai‘i CFL Recycling Flyer

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Flyer