Kauai refuse stations face closures, limits amid staffing and equipment issues

Kauai residents loading trash, green waste or bulky items had to check the county’s morning advisory before heading out: Hanalei Refuse Transfer Station was limited to bagged refuse, Hanapēpē was bagged refuse only because of equipment problems, and Kapaa and Līhue were handling more of the island’s disposal load. For anyone trying to avoid a wasted trip, the difference between a full open gate and a restricted one mattered as much as the load itself.

At 8 a.m. on June 19, the county said Hanalei would accept only bagged refuse that day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and would have no trash service on June 20 because of staffing issues. The county also said Kapaa Refuse Transfer Station was open for bagged and loose refuse, along with scrap metal, used oil, appliances, tires and propane tanks. Līhue was fully open, while Kekaha Landfill remained open with normal hours.

The county later changed course at 9:05 a.m., saying the Hanalei staffing problem for June 20 had been resolved. That meant Hanalei would take bagged refuse on June 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. after all. Hanapēpē, however, stayed on bagged-refuse-only status until further notice.

The practical effect on local households and businesses was immediate. A Hanalei pickup driver with loose household trash, a Hanapēpē resident with a bulky load, or a Westside business trying to clear out debris for the weekend all faced different rules depending on the station. The county’s Solid Waste Division says a crew of two staffs Hanalei, Kapaa and Hanapēpē, while a crew of three staffs Līhue, a staffing pattern that helps explain why a small disruption can ripple across the island so quickly.

The division says its mission is to protect public health and safety while maintaining a reliable refuse and recycling system, and that waste collected at transfer stations is hauled to the Kekaha Phase II Landfill. It also said Phase I of the Kapaa Refuse Transfer Station renovation was open, but only for bagged trash, not loose mixed waste. Residents who needed loose mixed waste disposal were directed to Līhue or Hanalei until the remaining Kapaa improvements are finished.

The county also said green waste collection at Kahi Road continued weather permitting, the old trailer-size restriction at transfer stations was no longer in effect, and trailers up to ordinance-referenced 3/4-ton capacity were allowed if they could be safely maneuvered. Bulky items such as mattresses and furniture larger than three feet were accepted only at Līhue or Kekaha. For closures and status changes, the county directed residents to call 808-212-4683 before loading up and driving out.