Landfills & Dumps in Hawaii

Hawaii's island geography creates waste management challenges unlike any other state, with limited landfill space, high shipping costs, and strong environmental sensitivity driving innovative approaches to disposal and recycling. The Hawaii Department of Health Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch regulates facilities statewide, working to ensure environmentally sound and cost-effective management while promoting pollution prevention and waste minimization. Each county operates its own solid waste system under state DOH oversight.

Oahu's H-POWER waste-to-energy facility converts a significant portion of the island's trash into electricity, reducing landfill demand on the most populated island. However, capacity limitations mean not all waste can be processed this way. The neighbor islands rely more heavily on traditional landfills, with Maui, Hawaii County, and Kauai each operating transfer stations and disposal facilities suited to their populations and geography. Disposal fees tend to be higher than mainland states due to operational costs.

Hawaii's deposit beverage container program is one of the state's most successful recycling initiatives. A 5-cent deposit charged at purchase is refunded when empty bottles and cans are returned to certified redemption centers, keeping millions of containers out of landfills annually. This program, combined with curbside recycling in many areas, helps offset the challenges of island waste management where shipping recyclables to mainland processors adds significant cost.

Green waste receives special attention across all islands, with dedicated facilities processing yard trimmings, tree debris, and agricultural waste into mulch and compost. Many facilities offer free mulch to residents, creating a useful product while extending precious landfill capacity. Keeping green waste separate from regular trash is encouraged or required at most facilities. Hurricane and storm debris management plans activate after major weather events to handle the surge in vegetative waste.

Several items are banned from Hawaii landfills including tires, lead-acid batteries, used motor oil, and appliances containing refrigerants. Most transfer stations maintain separate collection areas for these materials. Electronics and white goods have specific drop-off requirements and may carry fees. For statewide solid waste and recycling questions, the DOH Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch can be reached at (808) 586-4226. Individual county departments handle local facility information and collection schedules.