The City and County of Honolulu is expanding the bulky item appointment-based collection system island-wide starting July 1, 2020.  The regular monthly collection ends June 30, 2020.

The City encourages residents to visit opala.org for reuse and donation options before deciding to dispose of their items.

Appointments can be scheduled online at opala.org beginning June 1, 2020, with collections beginning July 1, 2020.  If a resident is unable to schedule online, he/she may call 768-3200 and select option “0” for assistance.

Single-family homes and individual units within a multi-unit residential building may schedule up to five bulky items per collection appointment and up to two metal appliances per separate appliance appointment.

AOAOs and property/resident managers may choose to schedule a single appointment for the entire building which would change the number of scheduled items. AOAOs and management should contact the City’s Refuse Division by emailing collection@honolulu.gov or by calling 768-3200 to select this option.

Visit opala.org for more information including frequently asked questions and printable flyers to help inform residents of the collection changes.

Introduction

The Department of Environmental Services would like to invite you to attend their 22nd Annual Tour de Trash.  Our tours are a great way to learn more about how the City and County of Honolulu manages our island’s Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and how businesses are implementing sustainable practices while providing crucial services and products.

The City faces challenges in waste management and needs to be knowledgeable in determining future directions.  On an island, land is one of our most precious resources, and reducing the use of landfills is a critical goal of the hierarchy of waste management.  In order to move forward successfully with major source reduction and recycling initiatives and alternative technologies, it’s imperative that we engage the public in intelligent discussion.  Raising public awareness of our `ōpala, through Tour de Trash, Opala.org, and other educational outreach programs helps to facilitate better public discussions and decision-making on source reduction, recycling, and waste management initiatives.

Tour de Trash enables the public to see firsthand the processes involved with managing MSW to include source reduction, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy, and landfill diversion.  The City’s Department of Environmental Services’ Tour de Trash focuses on public outreach and partnerships to protect O`ahu’s environment for future generations.

 

Call 768-3200 Ext. 7 to book your reservation.

 

Tour 1: Recyclers & Waste Processors

Date: Tuesday, April 21st, 2020

Registration Time: 8:00am-8:30am

Tour Time: 8:30am-1:00pm

Start/Finish: Parking will be at the H-Power Solar Building Facility on Kaomi Loop.

Physical Activity: Stairs, narrow passage ways, noisy equipment, standing, dust, dirt, and noxious odors.

Dress Code: Covered shoes, pants, and long sleeves are required.

The recyclers and waste processors tour follows the path of our `ōpala (mixed recyclables, green waste, and trash) from the blue, green, and gray carts to their respective sorting, composting, and waste-to-energy facilities. This tour is a great introduction to the City’s solid waste program which saves valuable landfill space.

RRR Recycling Services is where all of the City’s curbside blue cart material is received and processed. Tour goers will follow the recycling stream through the elevated sort line and see how paper, plastic, metal, and glass are separated and prepared for shipping to overseas end users. RRR Recycling Services

H-POWER is the City’s waste-to-energy facility, where all of O`ahu’s trash is incinerated to generate electricity. H-POWER is capable of processing up to one million tons of trash per year; providing Oahu with up to 10% of its electricity needs – 70 megawatts of power, or enough electricity to power 60,000 homes. Hardhats and safety glasses are provided. H-POWER

Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill. Tour goers will learn about the environmental protections and controls employed by today’s modern landfill including its complex liner, active cell site, leachate catchment system, surface water controls, and methane processing system.  Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill

Hawaiian Earth Recycling (HER) is where participants will see how green waste from the curbside green bins is recycled into compost and mulch. HER staff will explain the science behind the composting process; from inspecting, grinding, mulching, and open air windrow management to screening and mixing their final products into different soil mixes. Hawaiian Earth Recycling

Tour 2: Construction & Demolition (C&D) Recycling

Date: Thursday, June 18th, 2020

Registration Time: 8:00am-8:30am

Tour Time: 8:30am-12:30pm

Start/Finish: Parking will be at the H-Power Solar Building Facility on Kaomi Loop.

Physical Activity: Stairs, walking, standing, dust, and dirt.

Dress Code: Covered shoes, pants, and long sleeves are required.
Big or small, from home renovation to large construction projects, Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is produced.  Tour 2 will provide a glimpse of how companies in the construction industry are implementing techniques to create less waste and to produce reusable products.

West Oahu Aggregate recycles concrete, rock, and asphalt for resale and screens fill dirt from construction projects and converts it into topsoil.  This method of recycling C&D waste is favorable because it provides a reuse option for materials that would otherwise be landfilled.   West Oahu Aggregate
PVT Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility is a C&D, privately owned landfill that diverts up to 80% of the debris that enters its facility.  PVT recycles wood, metals, concrete, rock, and dirt which saves valuable landfill space.  PVT Land Company
Island Demo is centrally located in the Honolulu area.  Contractors are able to deliver C&D waste to Island Demo, where the waste is processed for reuse and recycling.  Island Demo deconstructs buildings, recycles the metals, and process concrete into aggregate helping to save valuable landfill space.  Island Demo

 

Tour 3: Green Business

Date: Tuesday, July 7th, 2020

Registration Time: 8:00am-8:30am

Tour Time: 8:30am-12:15pm

Start/Finish: Parking will be validated at Hawaii Convention Center- 1801 Kalakaua Avenue.

Physical Activity: Stairs, walking and standing.

Dress Code: Covered shoes are required.
On the Green Business tour, participants will get a behind the scenes look at how businesses are implementing sustainable practices to create less waste. Businesses participating in this tour have received the Green Business Award from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.  Green Business Awardees 

 

The Hawaii Convention Center’s exemplary sustainability programs include food recovery and donation systems, mixed material recycling collection systems for offices and events, as well as the energy and water efficiency equipment and measures they’ve implemented throughout their facility.  Hawaii Convention Center 
Whole Foods Kahala will showcase their recycling programs and sustainability initiatives, such as food donation, reusable shipping containers, and energy and water efficiency measures.  Whole Foods Market 
Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant will feature food waste recovery and used cooking oil collection to produce feed and bio-diesel.  Gyotaku Restaurant 

 

Tour 4: Reuse Tour 

Date: Thursday, August 6, 2020

Registration Time: 8:00am-8:15am

Tour Time: 8:15am-1:00pm

Start/Finish: Parking will be at the H-Power Solar Building Facility on Kaomi Loop.

Physical Activity: Stairs, walking and standing.

Dress Code: Covered shoes are required.

Tour 4 will feature organizations that are doing their part to reduce waste at the source.  Their work includes deconstruction, salvaging, and accepting donations of construction material, tools, appliances, furniture, and other home goods to be refurbished, reused, and resold.

The Salvation Army is an international organization that came to Hawaii in the 1890s.  Their mission is to aid in providing for the material, emotional, and spiritual needs for those requiring assistance.  At their headquarters, we will see how they provide housing and work for those in need, receive truckloads of donations from around the island, sort, refurbish, distribute to their other thrift stores, and resell the items to help support their cause.  They bale, ship, and sell unsold clothing as a commodity to support their organization and to further their green initiative towards landfill diversion.  The Salvation Army Hawaii

Re-Use Hawaii is a nonprofit organization that reduces waste by providing deconstruction services that disassembles the structure by hand salvaging reusable construction material.  Re-Use Hawaii accepts donations and provides the community with an affordable building material source.  Re-Use Hawaii

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity is part of a global nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate substandard housing through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes.  Their ReStore entity is a home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and home accessories to the public at a fraction of the retail price.  Proceeds raised at ReStore go towards supporting their mission of providing housing for those in need.  Honolulu Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Tour 5: Recyclers & Waste Processors 

(Discover Recycling Saturday event)

Date: Saturday, September 19th, 2020

Registration Time: 8:00am-8:30am

Tour Time: 8:30am-1:00pm

Start/Finish: Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia Street

Physical Activity: Stairs, narrow passage ways, noisy equipment, standing, dust, dirt and noxious odors.

Dress Code: Covered shoes, pants, and long sleeves are required.

This tour has the same stops as Tour 1 and is offered on a Saturday for those who may not usually be able to make the weekday tours. Teachers and students receive priority to attend this Saturday tour.

At the conclusion of this tour, buses will return to Kapolei Hale where City recycling staff will be available for questions about the tour and discussion on the City’s solid waste management and associated educational programs. Staff will have several of the City’s recycling educational resources available for distribution, including student activity books and recycling reminder stickers.

IMPORTANT TOUR INFORMATION

1. Tour participants must be at least 12 years old to attend. Minors between the ages of 12 to 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
2. Participants will be asked to provide a form of identification to verify reservation and secure a seat on the tour bus. All participants are required to sign permission/liability waiver forms pertaining to their specific tour before they will be allowed to board the bus.
3. There is no charge for all Tour de Trash tours, including site-to-site transportation. Space is limited and reservations are made on a first-come basis. Please consider your reservation a binding agreement to attend. A no-show is a seat that could have been given to someone who may be waiting for an open seat.
4. Tour does not include lunch or refreshments. Please bring water and/or snacks.
5. Tours may require participants to wear specific clothing and covered shoes. Please make sure that you follow the dress code for your tour. Participants who are not properly dressed for the tour may be denied access. All tour participants are required to stay with their tour group at all times for your safety.
6. Keep in mind that the Tour de Trash is designed to give participants a behind-the-scenes look at some of O`ahu’s largest and most dynamic recycling and waste processing facilities. Some of these sites require climbing several flights of stairs, walking through narrow corridors, standing for extended periods, and may be hot, dusty, or dirty. Please make sure that you are aware of the physical activity expected for each tour.
7. Please arrive at least 20-30 minutes before departure at any Start/Finish location listed to register and sign necessary forms. The buses will leave at the time designated. We will not be able to process late arrivals once we have confirmed participants and boarded the bus.
8. All tour participants are required to stay with their tour group at all times for your safety.
9. Tour sites are subject to change.

Custom Tours

The City is able to coordinate custom tours for school groups, solid waste advisory committees, technical associations, visiting professionals, and other such groups. Custom tour participants must provide their own transportation. Please call 768-3200 Ext. 7 for more information.

Costs and Sponsors

There is no charge for Tour de Trash tours. The tour includes round trip site-to-site bus transportation.

Tour guides on each bus are City Department of Environmental Services staff. Each participating tour site makes their facility available to the tour group for about an hour and provides in-house staff to conduct the tour and respond to questions.

Tour de Trash is promoted in of the City’s WasteLine e-newsletter and on the City’s Opala.org website. City staff handle registration, planning and coordination.

The City supports the costs of the buses, tour guides, promotion, registration, planning, and site coordination. The participating tour sites offer their facilities and staffing resources at no charge, and are considered sponsors and partners:

• Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant
• H-POWER – Covanta Energy
• Habitat For Humanity-ReStore
• Hawaii Convention Center
• Hawaiian Earth Recycling
• Honolulu Habitat for Humanity-ReStore
• Island Demolition
• PVT Land Company
• Re-Use Hawaii
• RRR Recycling Services
• The Salvation Army
• Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill – Waste Management
• West Oahu Aggregate
• Whole Foods Kahala

The City’s Recycling Branch continues its partnership with Honolulu Theatre for Youth to bring back recycling shows for schools. Opala Remix is a 60 minute play with new and improved songs and skits. HTY’s performance is filled with laughter and games, entertaining students while educating them about the City’s solid waste management programs. There is no cost so reserve early. Limited shows are available. Booking dates are from February 18 to March 13, 2020. To schedule or for more information, contact the Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Managing Director at 839-9885 x 703 or email manager@htyweb.org.

Phone books should be bagged and disposed of in the gray cart or with your regular trash collection. Better yet, if phone books are of no use to you, you can opt out altogether with the help of some websites. Phone books belong in the trash and not your blue bin because the binding and low-grade, low-value paper limits their ability to be recycled. They even get caught in screens and belts at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where blue bin material is sorted causing operation shut-downs and delays in the process. The phonebooks serve the City best mixed with regular refuse which is processed at H-POWER to produce energy for O`ahu. In fact, one phonebook from every residence and business would generate enough electricity to power 600 homes for a whole month!

Recycling and waste-to-energy work hand-in-hand to meet O`ahu’s solid waste management goals: to minimize waste going to the landfill while using our `ōpala as a resource. The City targets higher value material for recycling overseas while sending lower grade material to H-POWER for energy production. For more information about proper phonebook disposal, view this infographic created in collaboration with Hawaiian Telcom.

 

On O’ahu, 15% of residential rubbish is wasted food. This equates to about 46,000 tons of food thrown out by households! Consider taking a few simple steps to stop feeding the garbage. You’ll reduce your environmental footprint and save money! Check out our Food Waste Prevention Page for useful links, food waste facts and helpful mobile apps. Also on this webpage is the electronic version of our booklet “Food: Too Good To Waste“. This comprehensive booklet is tailored to O’ahu residents, and includes storage and preparation tips, recipes to re-vamp leftovers (including recipes by local chefs), donation options, organizational tools, and a printable shopping planner. About 204 million pounds of turkey meat gets tossed this time of year. Try out this Thanksgiving Dinner Portion Planner to decrease your chances of ending up with excessive leftovers. There are some food wastes that we just can’t eat. For inedible food scraps like egg shells or citrus peels, composting is a great option that reduces the volume of our waste stream and puts nutrients back into the soil. For a UH flyer on backyard composting, click here. www.savethefood.com

Learn the basics of backyard composting using resources from your yard and leftover food from your table! The City Department of Environmental Services has partnered with the Board of Water Supply and Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden for this beginner’s composting workshop.  Participants will learn tips on how to set up their own backyard composting system and utilize the finished compost.  Composting decreases the overall volume of our waste stream; much of which is yard and food waste.  Compost also enriches soil without the use of chemical fertilizers, reduces plant disease and pests, and retains moisture in your soil for a healthy lawn or garden.  Why throw away yard and food waste when you can learn to compost?  Registration required: call 748-5315 or email workshops@hbws.org.  Registration closes 2pm September 20, or when all spaces are filled.  Click here for details.