Hawaii County, HI Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

With no curbside collection, residents recycle by hauling sorted materials to the drop-off bins at the county's recycling and transfer stations. Accepted materials typically include HI-5 beverage containers, scrap metal, cardboard/paper, and greenwaste, which is composted at the East and West Hawai'i Organics Facilities. The county's integrated solid-waste code aims to combine source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting; two product bans reinforce this: polystyrene-foam food-service ware is prohibited for food providers (HCC 20-05-01), and businesses may not provide plastic checkout bags (HCC 20-06-02). Household recycling itself is encouraged rather than penalized, but recyclables should be diverted before landfilling.