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Honolulu outlines convenience centers, curbside food‑waste plan and reuse pilot at Kapaʻa transfer station
Summary
Director Babcock described city convenience centers and transfer stations, new e‑waste acceptance, a pilot reuse program with Reuse Hawaii and Goodwill starting May 31 at Kapaʻa transfer station, and a plan to start curbside food‑waste collection next April with a public education pilot earlier.
The Department of Environmental Services told the committee how residents can use city convenience centers and transfer stations, and previewed a curbside food‑waste rollout and a weekend reuse pilot.
Babcock summarized the network of seven city convenience centers (Waimanalo, Waianae, Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Laie and Wahiawa) and three transfer stations (Kapaʻa in Kailua, Kawailoa in Haleiwa, and Keʻilihau/Keʻehi on Middle Street in Honolulu). He said convenience centers are city‑owned, open seven days a week from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and are free to residents; only businesses must use transfer stations or pay for disposal.
What’s new: Babcock said e‑waste has been accepted at all convenience centers for about two months. He also described a weekend pilot starting May 31 at the Kapaʻa transfer station in Kailua in partnership with Reuse Hawaii and Goodwill Hawaii to accept household items and deconstruction materials for resale or reuse; the pilot will be evaluated through November for tonnage and feasibility.
Curbside organics: Babcock said the department plans to start curbside food‑waste collection for residents beginning next April and that the city will run a public information campaign before the full rollout. The department is upgrading the Hawaiian Earth Recycling compost facility in Wahiawa to accept food waste; green cart materials already go there and the facility accepts green waste free for residents.
Other services and contractors: White goods and appliances on site are deconstructed by a contractor for fluid removal and metal recycling. Cars are processed by a private shredder contractor; the remaining auto shredder residue (ASR) currently goes to landfill. Household tires are accepted (residents may bring up to four tires to a convenience center); business tire disposal is handled by private tire recyclers. Babcock said a metal‑recycling contractor handles ferrous and nonferrous metals, and that e‑waste is collected and exported to mainland processors under a vendor contract.
Ending: The department said it will report pilot results and rollout schedules to the council and that education and phased pilots will precede any islandwide changes to curbside collection.
