O'ahu tree recycling reworked

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

The rules have changed for recycling Christmas trees this year. The annual tree recycling collection sites are gone and O'ahu residents can either leave the trees for curbside pickup or take them to one of the city's refuse and recycling convenience centers.

A sign reminds people that Kapi'olani Community College is no longer a recycling collection site for Christmas trees. The state discontinued the program because fewer people were using the sites and some people didn't follow rules. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"They had problems with people dropping off the trees far in advance and after the dates they were collected," Lott said. "The park and the schools then had to deal with disposing of them. They also had some security issues; people would make mischief and make a mess."

Residents should place trees at the curb for pickup on their regular twice-per-month yard waste collection day, drop them off at the city's convenience centers seven days a week or at the composting facilities.

Condos and commercial buildings can call the city to arrange to haul trees directly to composting facilities for free.

In Mililani, trees must be cut in 3-foot lengths to fit inside the recycling cart.

Neighbor Islands will have some tree collection sites because they don't have automated rubbish pickups, Lott said.

"It is an evolution of the services we have," Lott said. "We don't want people to start dropping off their tree at the neighborhood school because then the poor school has to deal with getting those trees taken away."

To be recycled, trees must have all decorations removed. Flocked trees cannot be recycled.

Trees may also be dropped off at any of the seven O'ahu Refuse & Recycling Convenience Centers. All Convenience Centers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where to take those trees

O'ahu

Convenience Center locations and phone numbers:

• 'Ewa, Geiger Road, near gate to Barbers Point Naval Air Station, 226-2996.
• La'ie, behind the city's La'ie Corporation Yard, 293-8714.
• Wahiawa, intersection of Kamananui Road and Wilikina Drive, 621-3648.
• Wai'anae, off Plantation Road, next to the Wai'anae Landfill, 696-4203.
• Waimanalo, Hihimanu Street near the sewage treatment plant, 259-7182.
• Waipahu, Waipahu Depot Road, near the Police Academy, 676-8878.
• Kawailoa, Kawailoa Road, 637-5511.

Trees will also be accepted at these composting facilities:

• Hawaiian Earth Products Leeward (Campbell Industrial Park), weekdays, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 682-5895.
• Hawaiian Earth Products Windward (Kailua), 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 261-5877.

For recorded O'ahu Christmas tree recycling information, call 521-2447.

Big Island

The County of Hawai'i, Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division offers Christmas tree recycling at 10 of its 21 transfer stations.

Trees will be accepted through Jan. 6 at the following transfer stations:

• East Hawai'i: Hilo, Kea'au, and Pahoa Transfer Stations.
• West Hawai'i: Kealakehe, Keauhou and Puako Transfer Stations.
• South Hawai'i: Wai'ohinu.
• North Hawai'i: Honoka'a, Waimea and Ka'auhuhu Transfer Stations.

Trees will be chipped on site and chips may be picked up from Jan. 7 to 14 at the same locations. Signs are posted at the selected locations for Christmas tree dropoff.

Kaua'i

Christmas trees may be dropped off at County Transfer Stations, which are open every day excluding holidays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Transfer station locations:

• Hanalei Transfer Station 5-3781 Kuhio Highway, 826-7070.
• Kapa'a Transfer Station 5051 Kahi Road, 822-7334.
• Lihu'e Transfer Station 3450 Ahukini Road, 241-6854.
• Hanapepe Transfer Station 4380 Lele Road, 335-0624.

Trees will also be accepted at:

• Kekaha Landfill, open every day excluding holidays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., 337-9213.
• Kaua'i Nursery and Landscape, 3-1550 Kuamali'i Highway, Lihu'e, 245-7747. Trees will be accepted seven days a week, 24 hours per day. The tree recycling drop point is outside main entrance gate of the facility, which is on Kaumualii'i Highway, about one mile south of Puhi.

For details, contact the Kaua'i County Recycling Office at 241-6891.

Maui

Residents may drop off their trees at the following facilities:

• Maui Earth Compost Company, Hansen & Pulehu Road, weekdays, 7:30 a.m. — 4 p.m.
• Maui E.K.O, Central Landfill on Pulehu Road, daily, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Olowalu Recycling Center, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Hana Landfill, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.
• Moloka'i Naiwa Landfill, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; weekends, 8 a.m. to noon.
• Lanai Company Nursery, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  
  
  

Treecycling:

Jan. 3 & 10, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Kahului: Papa Avenue Soccer Field
• Ha'iku Community Center
• Hannibal Tavares Community Center
• Kihei Kalama Park North End

For details, contact: Recycle Maui County Hot line: 270-7880; Moloka'i, (800) 272-0117, Lana'i, (800) 272-0125.