This is a list of various places in Hawaii (focusing mainly on Oahu because I live there) that you can go to get rid of your junk around the house, or websites or places you can check for more information, aside from the usual charities (Community Clearinghouse, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc.). This information is taken from various sources.

Please note that this is a PRIVATE site, created strictly for informational purposes. I am not affiliated with any of the organizations or groups mentioned here (well, OK, I am a freecycling group member) and I do not represent or endorse their views, opinions, etc. Also, because this page is updated infrequently, names and phone numbers may be out of date.

Feel free to e-mail me at chibischala ~~at~~ yahoo(dot)com with suggestions. PLEASE put the words "Hawaii recycling" somewhere in the subject line so I don't delete your message as spam. Thank you!

General recycling/disposal information

• Oahu. Check the city's website, www.opala.org, for information on recycling paper, plastics, cardboard, cans, and more, plus locations of recycling bins and centers.
  
  The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii offers donation pickups. Call their office to see what their needs are.
  
  
• Big Island. Check the Recycle Hawaii website for information on where to go to recycle items.
  
  
• Maui. Check Maui County's website for more information.
  
  Also check the Maui Recycling Group's site for information on various programs they run that you can donate to. Among those programs is Aloha Shares, which accepts items ON MAUI ONLY. They haven't updated their site, but they no longer accept outer isles donations (I asked).
  
  
• Kauai. Check Kauai County's website for more information.
  
  
• Check the Earth 911 website for other ways to recycle or donate unwanted items and links to other programs.

Cans, bottles, plastic beverage containers

Hawaii instituted a so-called "bottle bill" in January 2005 that charges a 5-cent refundable deposit and a 1-cent nonrefundable program fee for each beverage container sold.

• To get your 5-cent deposit back, there are recycling centers across the state. Check the state Department of Health website for more information on the program and recycling center locations.
  
  
• Donate your empties to help charitable organizations. Various groups sometimes hold drives for people to drop off cans and bottles, which they will then turn in to recycling centers and claim the 5-cent refund to fund their projects. Check the newspaper or other neighborhood bulletin boards and flyers for information.
  
  
• Bring your containers to a school recycling bin, and the school will receive the proceeds from the recyclables. Just be warned of thieves stealing from school bins; if you see anyone suspicious, please PLEASE report it.

Appliances, nonworking

Call Honolulu Community College's CENT program to see if it will accept your old appliances. The program may take them for students to put to work repair and electrical skills. The items are then distributed to nonprofit groups. (Taken from a Star-Bulletin story.)

Audio equipment, nonworking

Call Honolulu Community College's CENT program to see if it will accept your old appliances. The program may take them for students to put to work repair and electrical skills. The items are then distributed to nonprofit groups. (Taken from a Star-Bulletin story.)

Batteries, rechargable

A national program recycles these; drop off at special boxes at Home Depot or Radio Shack. Check the city's website for more information on what can be recycled.

Batteries, car

Many places that sell car batteries will also accept old ones, which will be recycled. Call your car-parts store to see if they accept batteries.

The city also has convenience centers where you can drop off old batteries. Check the city's website for locations, hours, rules, and other information. (Taken from the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line)

Bicycles

• Drop off used and unwanted bikes on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange, 1638 Kamehameha IV Road. The bikes will be refurbished (or used for parts) and rented out to the community. The program is part of Kokua Kalihi Valley.
  
  
• Alternatively, you can bring bikes to Waialua High and Intermediate. The students will repair the bikes and give them back to the community. Call the school for more information. (From an article in the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line.)

Books, magazines

• Books can be donated to the Friends of the Library for them to sell at their huge annual book sale to benefit the state library system. Drop off items at their collection center on Pohukaina Street near Restaurant Row. Check the Friends' website for more information. Your donation may be tax-deductible.
  
  
• Call your local library or school to see if they accept donations of old books.
  
  
• The St. Francis Medical Center-West thrift shop accepts donations of books and tapes. Call them during office hours (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays) at 678-7180. All proceeds go back to the hospital. (Taken from a West Oahu Current story, published 12/14/05)
  
  
• Magazines can be brought to any state library either for use in their reading rooms or to give away free to the community; magazines are mainly used by students who need to cut pictures or text for projects. Just make sure your address label has been removed from the magazine. Your donation may be tax-deductible.

Cell phones

• A national program recycles these; drop off at special boxes at Home Depot or Radio Shack. Check the city's website for more information on what can be recycled.
  
  
• There is a nationwide "Call to Protect" program that takes old cell phones and gives them to domestic-abuse victims for use in case of emergency. I'm not sure if this program is still being done here; contact the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence to ask.
  
  
• The national HopeLine program takes old phones and uses them to benefit victims of domestic abuse. Phones can be brought to any Verizon Wireless store nationwide. Visit the website for more information.
  
  
• Until Jan. 31, 2006, Special Olympics will receive cash for every old cell phone donated. Visit the national website for information on how to donate. Simply fill out a form and a prepaid-postage box will be sent to you so you can mail in your phone.
  
  For local drop-off locations, call Special Olympics Hawaii. Drop-off centers include the Honolulu Advertiser building, First Hawaiian Bank, and Sprint.

Christmas and/or greeting cards

• Hawaii's famous Christmas Card Lady will take donations of cards and make them into scrapbooks to give to hospitalized children. The original woman, Helen Daniels, died some years ago; the position has been taken over by Merlinda Oania. Check the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line for Ms. Oania's address and phone number.

Clothing

• General. The Kidney Foundation usually makes scheduled stops for unwanted clothing across the island; their trips are announced beforehand by a brightly colored postcard put in your mailbox (you can't miss it). You may also schedule a pickup by visiting their website. Your donation is tax-deductible.
  
  There are also donation bins throughout the island where you can just drop off your items. Because they're like postal mailboxes, it's suggested that you put only nonbreakable items in these bins, and NO cans or bottles. Click here for a list of bin locations.
  
  
• General. The St. Francis Medical Center-West thrift shop accepts donations of gently used clothing. Call them during office hours (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays) at 678-7180. All proceeds go back to the hospital. (Taken from a West Oahu Current story, published 12/14/05)
  
  
• Women's work clothes. Bring these to the Honolulu Dress for Success program. Drop off clothes at the YWCA on Richards Street. They also accept other feminine items like unused cosmetics, unused undergarments, new nylons, bags, and shoes. Your donation is tax-deductible.
  
  
• Prom dresses. The so-far only Hawaii chapter of Becca's Closet on Maui accepts donations of prom dresses and accessories. Check the chapter's website for contact information, or try calling King Kekaulike High School on Maui. Your donation is tax-deductible.
  
  
• Wedding dresses. Donate these to national charities. None of them have any local offices, so you will have to ship them at your own expense. Check each charity's website for more details.
  
  
  • Brides Against Breast Cancer Nationwide Tour of Gowns. Dresses provided by women and bridal shops are sold for a fraction of their cost.
  • I Do Foundation. Donated gowns are sold through a consignment shop. The bride selects a charity to receive 20 percent of the sale price; another percentage goes to support the foundation's work.
  • Mary Madeline Project. Volunteers use wedding dresses to sew outfits for stillborn babies and those who die soon after birth.
  • Mitzvah Messenger Project (the corresponding links are on the left side of the page). Donated dresses are given to needy brides in Israel.

Computers, nonworking

• Island Recycling (845-1188, 1811 Dillingham Blvd.) accepts nonfunctioning computers.
  
  
• A twice-yearly drive on Oahu at CompUSA Kakaako (near Restaurant Row) collects working and nonworking computers, which will be either recycled or refurbished and given to schools and other nonprofit groups. Check your newspapers for actual dates.
  
  
• Big Island residents. Recycle Hawaii has started a "CompuCycle" event to which you can bring computers and computer-related equipment (NO stereo equipment, appliances or TVs accepted). Computers are refurbished and then made available to schools and nonprofit groups. Check your local newspapers for ads on when the next dropoff will be held, or check Recycle Hawaii's website. Your donation is tax-deductible.

Computers, working

• According to the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line: The city Office of Economic Development is in the process of setting up a one-stop Web site, Kidsdotcom, where people can get information about where and how to donate computers. In the meantime, Hawaii Computer For Kids works to put computers in public school classrooms. Call Helping Hands Hawaii (843-8473); Computer-Aided Technologies International (521-2259 or e-mail [email protected]); or contact any member of the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Honolulu.
  
  
• Try to call any school in your area to see if they take computer donations.
  
  
• A twice-yearly drive on Oahu at CompUSA Kakaako (near Restaurant Row) collects working and nonworking computers, which will be either recycled or refurbished and given to schools and other nonprofit groups. Check your newspapers for actual dates.
  
  
• Big Island residents. Recycle Hawaii has started a "CompuCycle" event to which you can bring computers and computer-related equipment (NO stereo equipment, appliances or TVs accepted). Computers are refurbished and then made available to schools and nonprofit groups. Check your local newspapers for ads on when the next dropoff will be held, or check Recycle Hawaii's website. Your donation is tax-deductible.

Eyeglasses

Lenscrafters accepts old glasses, whose lenses will be used to make eyeglasses for children in poor countries. I believe you can drop them off at any Lenscrafters store; call and ask. I believe Lions Clubs also accepts glasses; I know there's a drop-off box at my local Bank of Hawaii for such a purpose. Check with your local Lions Club.

Ink cartridges (for printers)

• Recycle your empty inkjet cartridges to benefit the Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary on the Big Island. Go to their website to request free pre-paid envelopes that you use to mail your cartridges in for recycling. Unfortunately, Epson and Canon BCI cartridges cannot be accepted.
  
  
• Go to Office Depot and turn them in, and you will receive a free ream of printer paper. I'm actually not sure if this is an ongoing offer; I saw it advertised once in the Sunday paper, but I'm not sure if it was only for a limited time. Call your nearest Office Depot and ask. Only certain brands and types of cartridges are accepted.

Paper, newspaper

Bring them to a city recycling bin, preferably one that is located at a school, because the school will then receive cash for all recyclable materials dropped in their bin. Check the city website for a list of bin locations. Glossy magazines and ad inserts CANNOT be recycled; such paper has a coating on it that makes it glossy but unfortunately also makes it ineligible for general recycling.

Just be warned of thieves stealing from school bins; if you see anyone suspicious, please PLEASE report it.

Phone books, phone directories

Rather than simply bringing these to a city recycling bin, you can also help local schools by waiting for Verizon Hawaii's yearly phone-directories recycling drive. All phone directories are accepted, not just Verizon's. This drive is in the form of a school contest -- the schools who turn in the most books win cash awards. This contest usually occurs around September; check your newspapers for announcements.

Plastic grocery bags

• Bring them to any Safeway store. I'm not sure exactly what you have to do with them; call your local Safeway and ask.
  
  
• Do you shop at Down to Earth? The store will give you a 5-cent credit for each bag that you bring in to use for bagging your groceries.

Shoes, athletic

Nike has a Reuse-A-Shoe program that recycles old athletic shoes. There are 2 dropoff sites on Oahu (none on the neighbor islands). They can accept only 10 pairs or fewer at one time; call ahead for larger donations.

• Runners HI, 98-390A Kamehameha Hwy., Aiea
• Niketown, King Kalakaua Plaza 2080, Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki

You may also mail any number of shoes at your own expense directly to Nike at:

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

Vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, etc.)

• Contact Catholic Charities. Vehicles do not have to be in working condition.
  
  
• Contact the Hawaii chapter of the Kidney Foundation. Vehicles do not have to be in working order, but there are some older models they will not accept if they are not working. Check their website for more information.

Miscellaneous

• You might want to check out the Freecycle Honolulu Yahoo group. You can offer practically anything you've got, working or nonworking condition, like-new or beat-up. There's no guarantee that someone will take you up on your offer, but it's worth a shot, and it's a way to keep large items out of our fast-filling landfills for at least a little while longer. The main stipulation is that items must be FREE -- hence the word "freecycle."
  
  Those not in the Honolulu/Oahu area can check out these other freecycling groups on Yahoo Groups:
  • FreecycleHawaii (statewide)
  • FreecycleCentralOahu (covering central Oahu, generally from Wheeler to Aiea; other towns may be included)
  • FreecyclingBigIsland
  • MauiHIFreecycle
  • KauaiFreecycle
  
  
• The St. Francis Medical Center-West thrift shop accepts donations of books, tapes, gently used clothing, small household goods, and jewelry. Baby items such as clothing and strollers are also popular. Call them during office hours (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays) at 678-7180. All proceeds go back to the hospital. (Taken from a West Oahu Current story, published 12/14/05)
  
  
• Check the City and County of Honolulu's recycling site for items such as car oil, large appliances, tires, and other stuff that you simply want to trash rather than recycle.

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Feel free to e-mail me at chibischala ~~at~~ yahoo(dot)com with additions, corrections, or other suggestions for this page. PLEASE put the words "Hawaii recycling" somewhere in the subject line so I don't delete your message as spam. Thank you!

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