Hawai'i County offers free drop-off recycling and HI-5 beverage-container redemption at its transfer and recycling stations, but household recycling is largely voluntary self-haul. Recyclables should be separated from rubbish before disposal, and greenwaste drop-off for composting is free for residents.
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.
Foam and plastic-bag bans on businesses are enforced administratively (civil fines up to $1,000 per day) and criminally as a petty misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and/or 30 days) under HCC Chapter 20's enforcement article.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Hawaii County, HI
Hawai'i County has no separate hoarding ordinance; the matter is handled under state cruelty law. Depriving pet animals of necessary sustenance is cruelty in...
Hawaii County, HI
Ordinance No. 25-63 (Bill 51, 2025) makes it illegal to feed feral animals, including cats, chickens, pigs and goats, on County of Hawai'i property, to prote...
Hawaii County, HI
Home composting is allowed and encouraged in Hawai'i County. The county runs green-waste diversion at its transfer stations and recycling programs, but there...
Hawaii County, HI
The County of Hawai'i has no ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on residential yards. Installation must still meet zoning setbacks,...
Hawaii County, HI
There is no county rule requiring native landscaping, but the Big Island is ground-zero for invasive-species control. Planting or spreading state-listed noxi...
Hawaii County, HI
Rainwater catchment is legal and common on the Big Island — many Puna and off-grid homes rely on it. The County Department of Water Supply does not recognize...
See how Hawaii County's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.