Hazardous Waste

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

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

Future event Schedule:  Next anticipated event will occur in September or October, 2025.

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(PDF, 819KB)

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

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

Dispose On Your Own

If you are unable to attend our collection events, the following materials can be disposed of on your own by following the directions below.  Many of these items can still be brought to a HHW event.  Items that can not be brought to an HHW event will say so with information on their proper disposal.

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, Napa Auto Parts and PS&D Tires.

Recycle Household and Rechargeable Batteries: Take to Kaua'i Resource Center in Lihue. See program web page: battery recycling

Recycle Propane Tanks: at any transfer station.

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.