RULES FOR COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I SOLID WASTE DIVISION FACILITIES

Hawai‘i County Code Chapter 20 Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) (“County Code”) and the County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management Rules of Practice & Procedure (“Admin Rules” or “SW Rule”) apply to all Solid Waste Division Facility Users.

Rules for Recycling & Transfer Stations:

  1. All materials shall be deposited directly into the designated container or solid waste area. Depositing materials outside of a designated area shall be considered littering. (SW Rule 2-5-7 & 2-5-8)
  2. Maximum one (1) residential load (rubbish or construction & demolition material) per day.  Maximum three (3) cubic yards per load. (SW Rule 2-5-15)
  3. Vehicle types utilizing the Transfer Stations are limited to sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, or vans.  Dump bed trucks are prohibited.  Certain types of trailers are allowed at select Transfer Stations, read rule for full details. (SW Rule 2-5-17)
  4. Scavenging is not permitted. (County Code §20-03-04, SW Rule 2-5-29 and H.A.R. §11-58.1-04(i)(1)(F)(2))
  5. Trespassing and Loitering within the Transfer Station is prohibited (SW Rule 2-5-5 & 2-5-21)  All customers enter the facility at their own risk (SW Rule 2-5-6)
  6. The County expects recycling of greenwaste whenever possible – including shrubbery, palm fronds, tree cuttings & grass clippings at the Greenwaste Recycling Facilities located at the East Hawai‘i and West Hawai‘i Organics Facilities, or at designated bins at specific Recycling & Transfer Stations. (SW Rule 2-5-13)
  7. Scrap Metal, including white goods/appliances (refrigerators, stoves, etc.), shall be recycled at the designated area at specific Recycling & Transfer Stations, and should not be put into Transfer Station refuse containers. (SW Rule 2-5-9)

Permitted Materials & Restrictions at Recycling & Transfer Stations:

  1. Household refuse, residential do-it-yourself construction and demolition, soft compactable bulky items (mattresses, stuffed chairs, and couches) and residential self-hauled greenwaste. (SW Rule 2-1-3 & 2-5-13)
    1. Rubbish Disposal Load Restrictions (SW Rule 2-5-15)
      1. Maximum one (1) residential load per day.
        1. If during a single day period a Residential ‘Do-It-Yourself’ generator has more than one load of rubbish (non-Construction & Demolition Material) they are allowed to take any additional loads directly to either the East Hawai‘i Regional Sort Station or the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (not the Transfer Station).  Tip fees will apply.
      2. Maximum three (3) cubic yards of trash per load.
        1. Three (3) cubic yards is the equivalent of a full-sized pickup truck with an 8-foot bed filled up to the side walls.
        2. Rubbish (non-Construction & Demolition material) loads exceeding the three (3) cubic yard limit must be taken directly to either the East Hawai‘i Regional Sort Station (<40 cubic yards) or the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (not the Transfer Station).  Tip fees will apply.
      3. The maximum solid waste item size shall be 7 feet or less in any dimension.  Hide-a-beds are prohibited. (SW Rule 2-5-15 & 2-5-16)
      4. Businesses cannot use the Transfer Stations, they must use the East Hawai‘i Regional Sort Station (Hilo) or the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (Pu‘uanahulu).
      5. Residential Do-It-Yourself Construction & Demolition (C&D) Material Disposal
        1. C&D load shall not exceed three (3) cubic yards.  C&D loads exceeding 3 cubic yards must be taken directly to the East Hawai‘i Regional Sort Station or West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (not the Transfer Station).  Tip fees will apply.
        2. If during a single day period a Residential ‘Do-It-Yourself’ generator has more than one load of C&D material they are allowed to take any additional loads directly to the East Hawai‘i Regional Sort Station or West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (not the Transfer Station).  Tip fees will apply.
        3. Residential ‘Do-It-Yourself’ generators of C&D material exceeding the one load per day limit at any Transfer Station may dispose of an additional load (based on limitations above) the following day at the Transfer Station during normal operating hours.
      6. Loads shall be securely tied and/or covered upon arrival at the Transfer Station to prevent spillage (SW Rule 2-5-27)
      7. Customers may include one double-bagged deceased household pet per day in their daily load limit. (SW Rule 2-5-12)
    2. Greenwaste Disposal Load Restrictions (SW Rule 2-5-19)
      1. The maximum greenwaste load size which is placed into a SWD greenwaste container or area shall be 5 cubic yards or less.
      2. Greenwaste, including logs and branches (except for palm fronds), shall be 3 feet or less in length, and shall be 1 foot or less in diameter.
      3. Maximum one (1) residential greenwaste load per day.

Questions?  Please contact the Solid Waste Division Administrative Office at 961-8270 or email to .

Prohibited Materials at Recycling & Transfer Stations:

  • Prohibited materials shall include all commercially hauled rubbish, garbage, swill or refuse, prohibited materials as defined by the State Department of Health, refuse generated by a business, farm, Federal or State agency, religious entity or nonprofit organization. (SW Rule 2-1-3)
  • No automobiles or automobile fluids. (SW Rule 2-1-3) Check https://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/automotive/ or the phone directory for options.
  • No whole tires. (SW Rule 2-1-3)
  • No hard bulky items, such as hide-a-beds with metal frames. These items must be taken directly to the East Hawai‘i Reload Facility or West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill.  (SW Rule 2-5-16)  Any oversized items may be assessed an additional special handling fee in addition to the regular landfill tipping fee.
  • No residential do-it-yourself construction and demolition debris (C&D) loads exceeding 3 cubic yards. (SW Rule 2-5-15)  C&D loads exceeding 3 cubic yards will be directed to the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (Pu‘uanahulu), where customer may dispose of large loads of C&D (>3 cubic yards).  Tip fees will apply.  Questions?  Please contact the Solid Waste Division Administrative Office at 961-8270 or email to .
  • No asbestos or canec building material waste.  Asbestos and canec waste is accepted with special handling at the West Hawai’i Sanitary Landfill only (contact Waste Management @ 886-0940)  (SW Rule 2-1-3)
  • No propane, oxygen or acetylene tanks or compressed gas cylinders (SW Rule 2-1-3)
  • No explosives, hazardous or radioactive wastes including fluorescent light bulbs, lead-acid or lithium batteries, and e-waste shall be thrown down the chutes. (SW Rule 2-1-3)
  • No landscape contractors or commercial haulers of residential greenwaste materials. Take to designated greenwaste facilities. (SW Rule 2-5-2)

Penalties

Any person violating any section of the Admin Rules shall be subject to an initial civil fine of $250.00 for each violation and a daily fine of $250.00 for each violation for each day thereafter until the violation is corrected. (SW Rule 2-7-1)

Reminder

NO COMMERCIAL REFUSE, COMMERCIALLY HAULED RESIDENTIAL WASTES OR COMMERCIAL HAULERS ALLOWED! Please see rules for LANDFILL DISPOSAL below. (SW Rule 2-5-2)

RULES FOR LANDFILL & RELOAD FACILITY DISPOSAL

General Rules for Landfill & Reload Facility Disposal

Landfill & Reload Facility Disposal Permits:
  1. Required for commercial disposal of waste at both the East Hawai‘i Reload Facility (Sort Station) in Hilo and at the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (WHSL) in Pu‘uanahulu. (SW Rule 2-2, 2-3-2 & 2-4-2)
  2. Solid Waste Facility Disposal Permit Application (PDF) are available online or at the Department of Environmental Management office at the Waiākea Office Plaza.  For assistance with Facility Disposal Permits contact Solid Waste Accounting at 961-8339 or
East Hawai‘i Reload Facility (Sort Station) Construction and Demolition (C&D) Load Size and Restrictions
  1. C&D loads destined for the East Hawai‘i Reload Facility (Sort Station) must not exceed 5 cubic yards per load. (SW Rule 2-4-7)
    1. A five (5) cubic yard load will fit in a standard size pickup truck with an 8-foot long bed filled to the top of the cab.
    2. C&D loads larger than 5 cubic yards shall be taken to the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill.
East Hawai‘i Reload Facility (Sort Station) Load Size Restriction For Commercial Waste Extended To June 30, 2023
  1. Restriction on businesses hauling commercially generated waste loads larger than five (5) cubic yards have been extended through June 30, 2023.  Should circumstances change, this restriction may end earlier. Extension Of East Hawai‘i Regional Sort Station Load Size Restriction To June 30, 2023
Construction and Demolition Debris (C&D) at West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill only:
  1. If you are disposing more than 50 cubic yards of C&D waste per day to the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill please notify the West Hawai‘i Scale House (886-8059) at least 24 hours prior to disposing for scheduling.
  2. Questions? Please contact the Solid Waste Division office at 961-8270 if you need to confirm whether you have C&D materials.
  3. Loads containing contaminated soil must establish a “profile” with our WHSL contractor Waste Management Hawai’i at: www.wmsolutions.com
Special Handling: Dead Animals, Animal Parts or Similar Organic Wastes (slaughterhouse, seafood processing and etc.); Medical Waste; Sludge, Oversized (over 4 feet in length) and Other Special Handling Wastes required to be disposed at West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill only. (SW Rule 2-3-20)

Disposal at West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill by appointment only, please call 886-8059 (Pu‘uanahulu).  Questions on what is considered special handling call 961-8270.

Landfill and Reload Facility Tip Fee Rates & Payment Options:
  1. Currently the Landfill and Reload Facility tip fee rate is $124.00 per ton (pro-rated for any fraction thereof). (SW Rule 2-8-3)
  2. Special Handling fee of $248.00 per ton or fraction thereof will be assessed on special categories of commodities to be landfilled and for any material deemed to require special handling (e.g. oversized material). Questions? Call West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill (Pu‘uanahulu) at 886-8059. (SW Rule 2-8-3 (1)(C))
  3. All businesses (including commercial haulers), agencies, farms and non-profits will be subject to a source-separated greenwaste tip fee of $31.00 per ton (pro-rated for any fraction thereof).  (SW Rule 2-8-3 (3))
  4. Unsecured Loads at the Sanitary Landfill, Reload Facility and the East & West Hawai‘i Organics Facilities shall be assessed an additional fee of $25.00 per load. (SW Rule 2-8-3 (4))
  5. Hilo Reload Facility Disposal Fee is $25.00 per ton in addition to the Landfill & Reload Facility tip fee [#1 above] (SW Rule 2-8-3 (1)(D))
  6. The schedule of tip fees and special handling fees are listed in the Administrative Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Department of Environmental Management – Revised 2023-04-19.
  7. We accept checks, debit and credit cards with proper identification. Sorry, we do NOT accept cash.
  8. Questions?  For assistance with accounts, billing or facility disposal permits contact Solid Waste Accounting at 961-8339 or .
Recycling Reminder:
  1. Please remember to recycle all recyclable materials (Scrap Metal, Greenwaste & Other recyclables) prior to entering the landfill or reload facility. Do not mix loads destined for recycling and the landfill.

In accordance with applicable Federal, State and Local laws and regulations. Local laws and regulations include, but not limited to: Hawai’i County Code, Chapter 20: Integrated Solid Waste Management and the Administrative Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Department of Environmental Management – Revised 2023-04-19