New Trash Removal Company Looks to Clean up Island

A locally owned and family-operated trash removal company on the west side of Kaua‘i is a fast growing and affordable option when it comes to removing rubbish, which the owners love doing because it serves, if not beautifies, the whole island.

Ohana Dump Runs Kaua‘i hit the ground running two months ago after Curtis Bupp and his wife Erica Maxwell pooled ideas on how to give back to the community while also being able to support their family. But as the couple emphasized to Kaua‘i Now that the plan was more than just an afterthought, Bupp and Maxwell also acknowledged the workload they have been taking on to keep the Garden Isle clean.

“Keola Aki who is in charge of recycling and solid waste for the county called to tell us that everything he had heard about us was positive and if he could help us in any way he would,” said Maxwell, who noted that when initially receiving his call her first thought was that Ohana Dump Runs Kaua‘i was in trouble. “When our website was finally finished, he said he would make an effort to put our information on the county resource center website.“

The full-service waste management company is registered as a Domestic Limited Liability Company, or LLC, in Hawai‘i. Their goal is to reduce, reuse, and recycle as many items as possible.

Services from Ohana Dump Runs Kaua‘i include:

• Repurposing of Usable Items
• Recycling
• Metal Scrapping
• Trash Removal
• Appliance Disposal
• Furniture Removal
• Green Waste
• E-Waste Disposal
• Clean Outs
• Construction Debris Removal
• Light Demolition, and more…

The couple works with nonprofit organizations donating usable items that help local families in need while keeping the island green for future generations.

Ohana Dump Runs Kaua‘i uses a 5’x8′ trailer that can haul up to 1 ton for each worksite but looks forward to investing in a dump trailer that will help to mitigate the physical toll of the job. 

“We are saving up for a dump trailer so that we can lessen the burden on our bodies,” Maxwell said. “But this early in the game, it’s just one thing at a time.”

Currently, the company will travel anywhere, charging roughly $300 for a full trailer, but pricing is based on each individual case after a free estimate.

The couple stated that the price points are comparable to renting a dumpster but underlined that their list of services does not include separating specific items to be disposed of or recycled, oftentimes leading to more than one dump run for just one worksite.

“You can’t offload mixed metals or green waste, hazardous liquids, and recyclable items from one load. So you can imagine most of our efforts lie in separating like items with like items,” Maxwell pointed out.

“It may take more time than planned or estimated but it all has to be separated anyway, so why not go the extra mile,” she said adding that the company’s process is always an educational opportunity for both parties.

Charges apply for commercial deposit of green waste while diversion programs at the transfer stations are restricted to residents only. Bulky Items such as mattresses and furniture bigger than three feet are only accepted at the Lihu’e Transfer Station or the Kekaha Landfill.

Vehicles with commercial plates are required to purchase tipping fee coupons in order to dispose of mixed waste at Transfer Stations. Coupons are available for purchase at the Treasury Department desk located in the Department of Motor Vehicles building at the Civic Center. Commercial vans, trailers, and 3/4 ton capacity trucks are limited to 2 loads per vehicle per day.

For more information about Ohana Dump Runs Kaua‘i call 808-353-1973, email Curtis at [email protected], or click here.