Kapaa refuse transfer station starts taking loose mixed waste again

Kapaa residents can once again bring loose mixed waste to the transfer station, but only if each item is three feet or smaller in any dimension. Larger bulky items, including mattresses and furniture over that size, still have to go to the Līhue Refuse Transfer Station or the Kekaha Landfill.

The change took effect June 5 at the Kapaa Refuse Transfer Station, another step toward full normal operations after months of phased reopening on Kauai’s Eastside. Green-waste collection is still being handled at the designated area at the bottom of Kahi Road until the remaining improvements are finished.

The reopening has come in stages. Kauai County held a blessing for the renovated facility on Feb. 27 to mark completion of the first phase of work, then reopened Phase I on March 12 with limited services. Loose mixed waste was added only after more of the project was completed.

The renovation is a $14 million project that began in November 2024. Kauai County says the work is intended to bring the facility into compliance with Hawaii Department of Health requirements and its NPDES permit. The upgrades included modern stormwater and leachate management systems, along with covered drop-off areas for green waste, refuse, white goods and scrap metal.

For Kapaa and nearby communities, the practical effect is immediate. Residents and small businesses now have another disposal option on the East Side, but they still need to sort items carefully and watch the size limit before heading to the site. That matters because the county spent much of the renovation period routing everyday disposal around the closure and its restrictions.

During the work, residential bagged trash was accepted at the Kapaa Base Yard at 4900 Kahau Road on Fridays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Green waste continued to be taken at the Kapaa site, and residents were also directed to alternate refuse transfer stations or the Kekaha Landfill as needed. The June 5 change brings part of that burden back to Kapaa, but the full restoration of services remains tied to the final stages of the overhaul.