Business Ordinances
Although refuse haulers are responsible for recycling/disposal compliance, the businesses that generate the waste must insure their refuse is within these restrictions. Inspectors monitor trucks unloading at the landfill, H-POWER and transfer stations. By visual assessment, an inspector determines if a truckload is over the limit on restricted materials or contains any amount of banned materials. The offending vehicle can be denied access to city disposal facilities for up to two weeks per violation. The Chief of the Refuse Division will determine the penalty and duration. The company, not the individual truck driver, is responsible for compliance of all trucks affiliated with the company. Please report any violations to the Recycling Branch via email to businessrecycle@honolulu.gov or by phone at (808) 768-3200 ext. 6.
Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH):
Recycling
Green waste (yard trimmings) from commercial and government generators is RESTRICTED/BANNED from disposal. Commercial and government trucks are limited to a maximum of 10% green waste per load at H-POWER and transfer stations, and completely banned from disposal at the landfill. Local composting facilities accept this material for a fee and process it into soil amendment products. Generators are also encouraged to consider small-scale, do-it-yourself mulching and composting. (Restrictions began in 1994; ban effective January 2003) (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 1.7)
Electronic waste is BANNED from disposal, effective July 2006. Commercial and government e-waste must be processed through e-waste recycling companies. State law requiring manufacturer take-back became effective January 2010. (City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 1.7)
Cardboard from commercial and government generators is RESTRICTED from disposal. Commercial and government trucks are limited to a maximum of 10% cardboard per load. Local paper recyclers pay for cardboard. (Restrictions began in 1994) (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 1.7)
Tires, auto batteries, white goods and scrap metals are BANNED from all city disposal sites, effective 1994. State law requires dealers to take your old tires and recycle them. City-collected residential tires are either delivered to H-POWER to generate electricity or to a local tire recycler. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 1.7)
Bars and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages are required to recycle glass containers, effective July 1, 1996. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 3.5)
Office buildings with 20,000 square feet or more of office space are required to recycle office paper, newspaper and cardboard, effective July 1, 1996. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 3.1)
Hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, food courts, food manufacturers/processors and hospitals meeting specific size criteria defined by ordinance are required to recycle food waste, effective January 1, 1997. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 3.5)
City agencies are required to recycle newspaper, cardboard, office paper, aluminum, glass, and plastics through government mandatory recycling program established in 1990 for all city agencies. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 1.11)
The city is required to purchase recycled paper products to support the recycled paper market. Everything from toilet tissue and paper towels to copier and computer paper is purchased with recycled content. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 1 – 12.3)
Bulky Item
Bulky wastes must be placed curbside only on the prescribed collection schedule date. Property owners are responsible for the curb area(s) abutting their property, and may be fined up to $250 per offense for non-compliance. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 1.4 (d). Ordinance10-16)
Any person who violates City Ordinance by placing or dumping bulky wastes in areas other than the curbside fronting their own property will be subject to a civil fine up to $2,500. (See City Ordinance, Chapter 9 – 1. Ordinance 16-009)
Disposable Food Ware Ordinance
Effective January 1, 2021, Ordinance 19 – 30 amends the Oʻahu Plastic Bag Ban and restricts the use and sale of polystyrene foam food ware, disposable plastic food ware, and disposable plastic service ware. It also dictates when disposable service ware may be provided.
Plastic Bag Ban
Chapter 9, Article 9 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu regulates the types of bags provided to customers on O’ahu, effective July 1, 2015 (Ordinance 12-8), with amendments effective July 1, 2018 (Ordinance 14-29), January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 17-37), and January 1, 2021 (Ordinance19-30).