Hazardous Waste

The County of Kauai hosts a FREE Household Hazardous Waste collection events for residents on a semi-annual basis. The County collection events are for residents only. 

The next residential event is scheduled for:

Saturday, January 26, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

  • 5-2723 Kuhio Highway behind the Kilauea Mini-Golf
  • Kapa'a Base yard at the end of Kahau Road past the Kapa'a Skate Park: 4900 Kahau Rd.

Sunday, January 27, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

  • Kauai Resource Center fronting the Lihue Transfer station: 3460 Ahukini Rd. 
  • The Hanapepe Base yard adjacent to the Hanapepe Transfer Station: 4380 Lele Rd.

If your Business generates hazardous materials, see the Hauler/Recyclers List below or click the link below for a list of Hazardous Waste haulers that manage this material: health.hawaii.gov/shwb/hazwaste/

A product is hazardous if the label says: Caution, Warning, Danger or Poison. What to do with unwanted household hazardous waste (HHW)? 

Download the HHW flyer

 

If your Business generates hazardous materials, see the Hauler/Recyclers List below or click the link below for a list of Hazardous Waste haulers that manage this material: health.hawaii.gov/shwb/hazwaste/

A product is hazardous if the label says: Caution, Warning, Danger or Poison. What to do with unwanted household hazardous waste (HHW)? 

Haulers and Recyclers for Commercial Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste Phone Island Description
Cameron Chemical Corp. 808-695-2999 All Islands Hazardous waste, used oil, solvents, universal waste
Enviro Services & Training Center 808-839-7222 All Islands Hazardous waste, used oil, solvents, universal waste
Oasis Environmental Group 808-529-1300 All Islands Hazardous waste, solvents, universal waste
Pacific Commercial Services 808-545-4599 All Islands Hazardous waste, solvents, universal waste
Pacific Environmental Corp. (PENCO) 808-545-5195 All Islands Hazardous waste, solvents, universal waste

Special Handling

The following materials require special handling at the County's Household Hazardous Waste collection events and cannot be disposed on your own:

Acetone Lighter Fluid
Arsenic Mercury
Boric Acid Muriatic Acid
Chlordane Paint Stripper
DDT Paint Thinner
Dieldrin Paraquat
Fertilizers (liquid) Pentachlorophenol
Fluorescent Tubes Paris Green
Formaldehyde Photographic Chemicals
Gasoline Rust Remover
Herbicides Solvents
Hydrochloric Acid Swimming Pool Chemicals
Insecticides Turpentine
Kerosene Varathane
Lead Wood Preservatives
Hydraulic fluid (oil) All aerosols 

Material that is suspected of coming from a commercial source can be refused.

photo of pesticides on 2 shelves

How to Properly Dispose of Latex Paint

Latex Paint Disposal

The County of Kauaʻi does not accept latex paint at the residents’ only Household Hazardous Waste collection events, because it’s not hazardous material. Latex paint (water-based, acrylic, or emulsion paint) is comprised mostly of water and can be safely disposed of in your household trash as long as it is absorbed or hardened. We encourage you to use old paint instead of disposing. If you have a large quantity of paint that can be donated for reuse, contact Habitat for Humanity in Hanapepe (335-0296) or Restore Kauai in Kapaa (639-3343) to see if they can accept your paint for reuse.

To absorb or harden latex paint

  • Air dry. Allow the paint to dry by removing the lid and allowing liquids to evaporate. This works well for small quantities of paint (an inch or two in the bottom of the can), and can take several days.
  • Absorb. Add shredded paper or old rags to the can  to absorb the liquid. You can also use a drying agent. Mix in an equal amount of an absorbent material and allowed to dry. Use kitty litter, sawdust, plaster of Paris, Oil-dri, or "waste paint hardeners" found at hardware stores.
  • Pour thin layers (about 1" of paint) into a cardboard box lined with newspaper. Allow the paint to dry one layer at a time until all paint has hardened.

Once the paint is thoroughly dry, the remaining hardened paint may be discarded with your regular trash. Leave the lid off the can so the waste collector can see the paint is hardened. Place in a regular trash bag and put it out with your weekly rubbish collection.

Do Not

  • DO NOT dump the paint on the ground or down storm drains where it will travel directly to surface and/or ground water.
  • DO NOT pour paint down the drain. While small amounts of latex paint can safely be washed down the drain to a septic system or wastewater treatment plant, this practice should be kept to a minimum. Limit this to brush cleaning and other clean-up.
  • DO NOT throw liquid paint in the regular trash. Leaking paint can spill out of waste collection trucks onto the roads making an unsightly mess that is very difficult to clean up.

Call Recycling Office at (808) 241-4841 for additional information on Household Hazardous Waste.

Dispose On Your Own

If you are unable to attend our collection events, the following materials can be disposed of on your own:

Material Method
Aluminum Cleaners Flush down drain
Ammonia Cleaners Flush down drain
Antifreeze Absorb and trash
Auto Battery Return to retailer or recycle at PS&D Tires
Auto Repair Products Trash can
Bathroom Cleaners Flush down drain
Batteries - Household Recycle at Kauai Resource Center
Batteries - Rechargeable Recycle at Kauai Resource Center
Brake Fluid Absorb and trash
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) Recycle at Home Depot
No Commercial bulbs
Diesel Fuel Absorb and trash
Disinfectants Flush down drain
Drain Cleaners Flush down drain
Fertilizers (granular) Trash can
Fiberglass Trash can
Floor Care Products Absorb and trash
Fluorescent Tubes Trash can, Home Depot-Up to 4 ft Residents only
Furniture Polish Absorb and trash
Hair Permanent Lotions Flush down drain
Hair Relaxers Flush down drain
Medicine (liquids) Absorb and trash
Medicine (pills)* Trash can
Metal Polish with Solvent Trash can
Oil products (motor oil, cutting oil, fuel oil) Recycle at Refuse Transfer Stations
Oven Cleaner Trash can
Paint (see also Sprays) Absorb and trash
Primer Absorb and trash
Propane Tank Recycle at Transfer Station
Shoe Polish Trash can
Toilet Bowl Cleaners Flush down drain
Transmission Fluid Absorb and trash
Tub & Tile Cleaners Flush down drain
Varnish Absorb and trash
Window Cleaners Flush down drain

Flush down drain: Flush down the drain with plenty of water; rinse and throw empty container away in trash container.

Sprays: Place absorbent material in a plastic bag, spray until can is empty, being careful not to inhale the fumes; leave can in bag, then tie and throw bag away in trash container.

Trash can: Close container securely to prevent spillage, then throw away. Wrap light bulbs in newspaper before disposal.

Absorb, harden dispose in trash: Pour liquid into a plastic bag with absorbent material, such as kitty litter, shredded newspaper, old rags, or sawdust. Once liquid is absorbed, seal the bag, then throw away in trash can. An oil change box provides the same results. Paint hardened or absorbed in the can, then thrown away.

Recycle Car Batteries and Computer Backup Batteries: Retailers of car batteries are required by law to accept your old battery when you purchase a new replacement.  Car batteries accepted at: Costco, E-H International, Napa Auto Parts and PS&D Tires.

Recycle Household and Rechargeable Batteries: Take to Kauai Resource Center in Lihue. See program web page: www.kauai.gov/batteryrecycling

Recycle Propane Tanks: at any transfer station.