County anticipates rubbish collection delays through early next year

Longer haul times for residential rubbish to the Kekaha Landfill will likely cause delays with home collections through early next year.

The Kaua‘i County Public Works Solid Waste Division explained Tuesday that construction work at two of the county’s transfer stations is the culprit behind the necessary longer hauls.

Because the Kapa‘a transfer station is closed and under renovation and the Līhu‘e transfer station is still under construction, individual rubbish trucks must offload at the landfill instead of transfer stations.

“Although refuse pick up could be delayed or occur at different times than usual, residential refuse collections will take place on the regularly scheduled days,” said Solid Waste Division Chief Allison Fraley. “Customers are advised to leave their trash out.”

Customers must set their trash out the night before or by 4:30 a.m. the day of scheduled collection to make sure rubbish is picked up.

Otherwise, you will need to take your trash to the nearest transfer station for disposal.

Officials also advise:

• The rubbish cart cannot be overflowing; lid must be fully closed before pickup.
• Trash should only be placed in your assigned rubbish cart.
• Only trash inside the cart will be picked up.
• All trash must be bagged before being placed in rubbish carts.
• Only dry trash should be placed in rubbish carts. Liquids must be drained or absorbed before placing in carts.
• Carts must be placed at least 5 feet away from any object with at least 16 feet of clearance above.
• When carts are placed in a row, on cul-de-sacs for example, carts must be 3 feet apart.
• Rubbish carts should be removed from the curbside as soon as possible after collection is completed.

If your trash has not been picked up by the end of the day, call 808-241-4841 or email solidwaste@kauai.gov.

The county late Tuesday morning issued updates on the status of transfer stations and the Kekaha Landfill:

Hanalei transfer station
5-3751 Kūhiō Highway, Princeville
Open 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; green waste open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Status: Not accepting trash until further notice because of equipment failure. However, the facility began accepting bagged trash only at 1 p.m. Tuesday. All other services are available.

Kapa‘a transfer station
5051 Kahi Road, Kapa‘a
Open 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Status: Closed until July 2025 for renovations. However, green waste collection will remain open. Additionally, residential bagged trash only will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday at the Kapa‘a Base Yard, located at 4900 Kahau Road.

Līhu‘e transfer station
3450 Ahukini Road, Līhu‘e
Open 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Status: Materials accepted have been temporarily modified. Līhu‘e will not be accepting construction and demolition debris or trailers containing trash. Pallets must be cut into quarters. For more information, click here.

Hanapēpē transfer station
4380 Lele Road, Hanapēpē
Open 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Status: All services available.

Kekaha Landfill
6900 Kaumuali‘i Highway, Kekaha
Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed from noon to 12:30 p.m. for lunch
Status: No scrap metal or propane tanks accepted (large appliances only). All other services available.

All locations are open daily, except holidays.

For more information, click here or call the Solid Waste Division at 808-241-4841.

For weekend updates, call 808-212-4683.