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RECYCLING ON KAUA'I

What to recycle, where to go, and how it all works

Recycling Basics

Kauaʻi’s waste diversion rate is 43%, the best in the state and above the national average of 35%, but still well below the County’s Zero Waste goal of 70%. Recycling saves valuable materials, reduces energy use, and extends the life of Kekaha Landfill. Every item properly recycled matters.

County Recycling Office: (808) 241-4841
Email: solidwaste@kauai.gov

What Can Be Recycled

At County drop-off bins, you can recycle the following materials. All items must be rinsed and sorted before drop-off. Remove lids and caps.

  • Glass containers - No mirrors, window glass, or jalousies

  • Cardboard - Flattened

  • Mixed paper - Newspaper, paperboard (cereal boxes, soda boxes)

  • Aluminum and tin cans

  • Plastics #1 and #2 - Bottles and jars only. No clamshells, tubs, or trays

Note: In 2018, Kauaʻi stopped accepting plastic #1 and #2 clamshell and tub-shaped containers due to changes in global recycling markets.

Dump

Where to Recycle

County Residential Drop-Off Bins

Free drop-off bins are located across the island for residential use. Pre-sort all materials before dropping off.

  • Hanalei Transfer Station

  • End of Kahau Rd, Kapaʻa (past the Armory)

  • Behind Kmart, Līhuʻe

  • Brennecke’s parking lot, Poʻipū

  • And more - see the full map below

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Interactive map: County Recycling Facility Map

Kauaʻi Resource Center

3460 Ahukini Rd, Līhuʻe
(near the airport, in front of the Līhuʻe Refuse Transfer Station) Mon–Fri 7:45am–4:30pm.

Services include: battery recycling (alkaline, NiCad, lithium), fluorescent light bulb recycling, free compost bin distribution, and reuse drop-off.

HI-5 Redemption Centers

Earn 5¢ per eligible beverage container at these locations

Reynolds Recycling - Kauaʻi Resource Center

3460 Ahukini Rd, Līhuʻe

Mon–Sat 9am–5pm (closed noon–1:30pm)

Reynolds Recycling - Kapaʻa

5675B Kawaihau Rd

Tue–Sat 9am–5pm

KCRS - Kapaʻa

962-A Kipuni Way

Tue–Fri 8am–4pm

KCRS - Poʻipū

2810 Poipu Rd

Thu & Sun 8am–4pm

KCRS - Westside

Next to Old Sugar Mill, Kekaha Rd

Wed & Sat 8am–4pm

Image by Egor Myznik

Curbside Recycling Pickup

If you’d like to see curbside recycling happen on our island, sign our petition:

The County does not currently offer curbside recycling, but a few private services do.

Sunny’s Recycling

​A family-run business servicing commercial locations across Kauaʻi. Offers custom recycling program implementation, regular pickups, and community donation contributions.

The Sort Authority

​​Weekly curbside recycling pickup with provided bins. They pick up your full bin, swap it for a clean one, then sort, rinse, and deliver materials to the recycling center. Available for residential and commercial accounts.

Special Items Recycling

The County offers dedicated recycling programs
for items that can’t go in regular drop-off bins:

  • Batteries (alkaline, NiCad, lithium)​

  • Fluorescent light bulbs

  • Electronics (e-waste)

  • Motor oil

  • Used cooking oil

  • Tires

  • Appliances

  • Hazardous household waste

  • Propane and pressurized tanks

  • Vehicles

  • Green waste (yard trimmings)

Visit the County Recycling page for details on each program, or call (808) 241-4841.

Where Does Our Recycling Go?

Hawaiʻi does not have a facility to process recyclables into new materials, so Kauaʻi ships most recyclables to markets in Asia (excluding China). The exact destination changes depending on market demand.


HI-5 glass goes to California for remanufacturing into new bottles. Non-HI-5 glass stays on Kauaʻi for use in construction, landscaping, and art.


Keeping contamination low is critical, Kauaʻi’s contamination rate is under 3%, far below the state average. Only cleaned and properly sorted recyclables are marketable.

County Recycling Contact

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