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.

• • Resources for Businesses, Farms, Government Agencies & Non-Profits
  • Hazmat Disposal Options for Residents
  • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events for Residents Only
  • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Acceptables
  • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Non-Acceptables

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:

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/

• • • Fluorescent bulbs
    • Lead-Acid batteries
    • Used Motor Oil
    • Various Other Hazmat

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: TBA February 2025
    • Kailua-Kona: TBA February 2025
    • Puna: Pāhoa Recycling & Transfer Station; Sunday, March 2, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    • Waimea: Waimea District Park parking lot; Saturday, March 1, 2025, 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 any travel restrictions for our O‘ahu-based contractor and other 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)
    • most types of household batteries (alkaline, NiCad, NiMH, Lithium (non-automotive & no PV system), 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:

• • • Business or Farm (including unwanted farm pesticides) waste are prohibited by law (see Business Resources)
    • Government Agency or Non-profit group generated waste are prohibited by law (see Business Resources)
    • electronic waste (computers, TVs, printers, printer cartridges & etc.), for disposal options see our e-waste page.
    • latex paint and base, acrylic paints (water-based) paint is collected for reuse at the Hilo, Kea‘au and Waimea Reuse Centers at Transfer Stations.  If the paint is junk/rusty/unusable solidify it by letting it completely dry out to a solid and dispose in regular trash.
    • empty compressed gas cylinders/canisters – these are scrap metal, contact Scrap Metal company.  gas cylinders/canisters greater than 5 gallons in capacity. gas cylinders/canisters containing industrial-use gases (e.g. acetylene)
    • fertilizers
    • farm / agricultural / industrial restricted use pesticides (unwanted agricultural or industrial pesticides may be collected by State of Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture)
    • used cooking oil (solidify or absorb and dispose with trash or see our food/organics waste page – freezing doesn’t count as solidification)
    • fluorescent light ballasts manufactured after 1998 (have no PCBs and are considered scrap metal)
    • automotive or solar PV system lithium batteries (contact your manufacturer for battery return policy or see business listing for lithium battery recycling above)
    • incandescent or LED bulbs (dispose with regular rubbish), cracked/broken fluorescent bulbs
    • explosives, ammunition or fireworks. Unwanted ammunition can be safely disposed of through the Police Department; call the non-emergency police contact number, 935-3311, and describe the ammunition you need to dispose.
    • pyrophorics
    • flares and water reactive materials
    • biological or infectious waste.  e.g., anything that came into contact with blood, bodily fluids or animal waste; needles, sharps or syringes (Proper Disposal of Home Healthcare Waste & Safe Syringe Disposal Options)
    • unused sharps, needles or syringes (check online for retailers that offer mail-back options)
    • Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD a.k.a. ‘E-cigarettes’ or ‘vaping devices’) and cartridges (‘pods’) containing liquid nicotine or THC liquid.  Please dispose of liquid nicotine cartridges (‘pods’) via the DEA National Drug Take-Back Initiative.
    • controlled substances (i.e. illegal drugs, highly controlled/restricted medications, narcotics) – for take-back options of unused legal medications go to the Hawai‘i Medication Drop-Box Program, DEA National Drug Take-Back Initiative or the Go-to-Guide for Safe Drug Take-Back.
    • radioactive & shock sensitive materials
    • fire extinguishers & ionization smoke detectors (clearly states “ionization” or “americium 241” sensor type, not accepted – return to manufacturer) (info sheet)
    • detergents, household soaps, household/glass/window cleaners
    • tires are prohibited by law
    • non-household quantities of materials (e.g. > 10 gallons) or non-household size containers (e.g. > 5 gallons containers or 55 gallon drums)
    • non-hazardous material

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