Honolulu Department of Environmental Services outlines GROW pilot to collect food waste in six neighborhoods starting April 1, 2026

The Department of Environmental Services on March 3 briefed the Committee on Energy, Environment and Sustainability on GROW (green recycling organic waste), a residential food‑waste collection pilot scheduled to begin April 1, 2026 in six pilot areas and expand islandwide Oct. 1.

Henry Gabriel, refuse division recycling branch, told the committee GROW is intended to divert food waste from landfills and to produce compost via a contractor using an in‑vessel system. "This is the GROW program," Gabriel said. "We would rather see food waste composted rather than trying to burn it." He said the pilot areas were selected to represent a cross‑section of the island’s routes and that participating households will receive a mailer on March 9.

Gabriel gave a list of accepted materials for the green compost cart — fruits and vegetables, solid/semi‑solid dairy (cheese, yogurt), baked goods, pasta, rice, grains,…