The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has been selected to receive $3.6 million in federal funding to establish the first recycling center in West Maui, providing residents with additional options for disposing of recyclables, green waste and large, bulky items.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the County a $3,607,065 Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant for the project. The funding will support the acquisition of a strategically located parcel in West Maui and the development of a waste collection center designed to divert an estimated 1,794 tons of green waste, recyclables and bulky items from landfills and illegal dumping sites each year.

“This collection center will help residents more easily dispose of materials responsibly, reduce illegal dumping and protect our ʻāina,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “This grant provides an important opportunity to strengthen waste management services in West Maui while supporting the community’s ongoing recovery. We are grateful to the EPA for recognizing the need for this investment and for supporting a cleaner, more resilient future for Maui County.”

The project is being led by DEM’s Solid Waste Division, with a three-year timeline from land procurement to grand opening. The recycling center will provide ongoing recycling drop-off bins for residents to self-haul recyclables, and the site will host “Go-Green” events on a regular basis to accept bulky items such as appliances, tires and electronics.

The collection center is planning to accept a range of materials, including:

• Green waste
• Aluminum cans
• Glass bottles
• Cardboard and paper
• Plastics
• Scrap metal
• Electronics
• Appliances, including those containing refrigerants
• Auto tires
• Lead-acid batteries
• Propane tanks
• Large, bulky items

“This funding will enable the County to expand much-needed waste management services for West Maui residents, including those who continue to recover from the 2023 Maui Wildfires,” said DEM Director Shayne Agawa. “Establishing a dedicated collection center will provide a more convenient option for residents to properly dispose of materials while helping address illegal dumping and potential environmental hazards in remote areas.”

The project is intended to increase the amount of material diverted from Maui County’s landfill while improving access to waste collection services in West Maui. By providing a designated location for recyclable, reusable and bulky materials, the center will help reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill and support the County’s broader efforts to strengthen environmental stewardship and sustainability.

This specific EPA grant program supports improvements to municipal solid waste management systems, including infrastructure for collecting materials, increasing diversion and recycling rates, improving the quality of recyclable materials and strengthening markets for recycled commodities.

Additional information about the project location, design, timelines and future collection center operations will be provided as the project progresses. For more information, call the Recycling Hotline at (808) 270-7880.

For general information on DEM, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/dem.