Scrap metal is often the bulkiest and heaviest material collected at municipal transfer/recycling facilities. Recycling scrap metal will conserve limited landfill space. It also conserves natural resources by replacing the need for virgin raw materials with recycled scrap metal to produce new metal goods! Recycling one ton of scrap metal saves: 2,500 pounds of iron ore! 1,400 pounds of coal! 120 pounds of limestone!

If you have metal appliances to recycle please see Appliances/White Goods page.

Every location may accept different things, follow instructions or call first.

Commercial/industrial refrigerators/freezers/HVACs must be taken to a permitted scrap metal facility that accepts such items.

West Hawai‘i

In West Hawai‘i, clean scrap metals may be taken to these locations:

• Atlas Recycling Centers
  Mon – Fri: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  74-5600 Alapa St, Kailua-Kona
  (808) 329-6868 (Please call first)
  Scrap metal value may be paid to you for materials accepted.
• Business Services Hawai‘i
  Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  (808) 966-7489 (Please call first) Servicing the entire island
  Call for list of acceptable items
• Big Island Scrap Metal
  74-589 Honokōhau St., Kailua-Kona
  Accepts empty propane tanks. No electronics or microwaves.  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.
  (808) 854-4530 (Please call first)
• County Recycling & Transfer Station Locations
  • Rules for County Recycling & Transfer Station Locations’ Scrap Metal Bins
    No commercial, government agency or non-profit agency generated metal accepted at these County locations.
    No automobiles, no auto/boat/motor parts (including but not limited to engines, motors, transmissions or other metals with fluids)
    No propane/oxygen/acetylene tanks or other compressed gas cylinders accepted at these County locations.
    One load per customer/vehicle per day.  Load limit of 3 cubic yards allowed.
    Vehicles allowed at the Transfer Station are limited to sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks or mini-vans.  Trailers and dump bed trucks are prohibited.
    Small clean metal (aluminum, steel, tin, bi-metal & etc.) cans (soup, meat, fruit/veg or pet food) and metal caps/covers/lids are accepted.  May be crushed.
    There is no charge for household scrap metal recycling at these County facilities.
    Closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Physical/Social Distancing Rules at All Solid Waste Division Facilities

These physical distancing rules are for your safety and the safety of the staff and fellow customers.  Please kōkua and thank you for doing your part to keep these facilities safe for all participants, especially our kupuna and other vulnerable residents.

• Facility users must keep a six (6) foot or greater distance from each other and facility employees.
• If indoors all users must wear a facial covering (cover nose & mouth).
• If you are feeling ill or showing symptoms of illness please consider postponing your presence at our facilities or designate someone else to drop off your materials.  Customers under government ordered quarantine or isolation shall abide by those restrictions.

East Hawai‘i

In East Hawai‘i, clean scrap metals may be taken to these locations:

• Atlas Recycling Centers
  Mon – Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Sat & Sun: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  30 Maka‘ala St., Hilo
  (808) 935-9328 (Please call first)
  Scrap metal value may be paid to you for materials accepted.
• Big Island Scrap Metal
  16-168 Kalara St., Kea‘au
  Accepts empty propane tanks.  No electronics or microwaves. 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.
  (808) 854-4530 (Please call first)
• Business Services Hawai‘i
  Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  16-630 Kipimana St., Kea‘au
  (808) 966-7489 (Please call first)
  Call for list of acceptable items
• Hilo Propane
  Propane Tanks ONLY (Fee)
  170 Maka‘ala St., Hilo
  (808) 961-0089 (Please call first)
• Mr. K’s Recycle & Redemption
  Daily 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  815 Kino’ole St., Hilo (next to K’s Drive-In & Kadota Liquors)
  (808) 969-1222
  Accepting aluminum, copper, bronze, stainless steel, brass and other non-ferrous metals.
  Scrap metal value may be paid to you for materials accepted.
• County Recycling & Transfer Station Locations
  • Rules for County Recycling & Transfer Station Locations’ Scrap Metal Bins
    No commercial, government agency or non-profit agency generated metal accepted at these County locations.
    No automobiles, no auto/boat/motor parts (including but not limited to engines, motors, transmissions or other metals with fluids)
    No propane/oxygen/acetylene tanks or other compressed gas cylinders accepted at these County locations.
    One load per customer/vehicle per day.  Load limit of 3 cubic yards allowed.
    Vehicles allowed at the Transfer Station are limited to sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks or mini-vans.  Trailers and dump bed trucks are prohibited.
    Small clean metal (aluminum, steel, tin, bi-metal & etc.) cans (soup, meat, fruit/veg or pet food) and metal caps/covers/lids are accepted.   May be crushed.
    There is no charge for household scrap metal recycling at these County facilities.
    Closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Physical/Social Distancing Rules at All Solid Waste Division Facilities

These physical distancing rules are for your safety and the safety of the staff and fellow customers.  Please kōkua and thank you for doing your part to keep these facilities safe for all participants, especially our kupuna and other vulnerable residents.

• Facility users must keep a six (6) foot or greater distance from each other and facility employees.
• If indoors all users must wear a facial covering (cover nose & mouth).
• If you are feeling ill or showing symptoms of illness please consider postponing your presence at our facilities or designate someone else to drop off your materials.  Customers under government ordered quarantine or isolation shall abide by those restrictions.

Catalytic Converters, Copper, Palladium, Platinum and Rhodium Special Regulations

New catalytic converter, palladium, platinum and rhodium scrap metal regulations:

In June 2022, Act 88 (2022) was enacted by the Hawai‘i State Legislature to deter catalytic converter theft.  This law establishes new rules for scrap dealers and sellers on catalytic converter, palladium, platinum or rhodium transactions.
Act 197 (2007) was enacted by the Hawai‘i State Legislature to deter copper theft. This law establishes rules for scrap dealers and sellers on copper transactions.

Atlas Recycling, Big Island Scrap Metal and Mr. K’s Recycle & Redemption buy back copper and catalytic converters. The payout amount is according to type and weight.  Customers must have a valid picture ID.  The paperwork received from the seller/recycler must be notarized.  Once the notarized document is returned to the seller/recycler, a payment is issued by check only.  The notarized paperwork is kept on file and may be reported to the applicable police department, as required by law.