Ocean View transfer station adds Saturday hours to improve access

Big Island County announced an expansion of hours at the Ocean View Recycling and Transfer Station, adding a Saturday window beginning Jan. 17, 2026. The move provides a full-day Saturday option of 6 a.m.-6 p.m., with recycling services available on Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., offering HOVE residents a new weekend alternative for drop-offs.

Under the revised weekly schedule, the station will operate Sunday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. with recycling 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. with recycling 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. with HI-5 redemption 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and recycling 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and the new Saturday slot. The expanded Saturday hours allow residents to drop off scrap metal, white goods, cardboard and glass in addition to regular trash collection during the weekend window.

For a rural community like Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, access and scheduling matter. Many residents work weekdays or face long drives to Hilo or Kona; a Saturday option reduces travel burdens and may increase participation in recycling programs. By creating a weekend window for bulky items and separated recyclables, the county increases convenience and the practical ability to divert waste from the landfill.

Operationally, adding Saturday service raises questions county officials will need to manage: staffing and overtime, equipment availability, and maintenance scheduling. Those administrative choices determine whether the new hours are sustainable and whether they translate into measurable gains in recycling rates and reduced illegal dumping. The county's decision signals responsiveness to local access needs, but it also shifts costs onto weekend operations that will require oversight through budget and performance measures.

Notably, HI-5 bottle and can redemption remains limited to Fridays between 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., meaning residents seeking cash refunds must still plan visits around that narrower window. Recycling drop-off on Saturday will not include HI-5 redemption, so those seeking refunds should use Friday hours or plan accordingly.

The change offers immediate practical benefits while raising longer-term policy questions about service equity and resource allocation across the island's rural communities. Tracking whether weekend hours translate into higher diversion and fewer illegal roadside dumps will be important for future decisions about similar expansions elsewhere in the county.

The takeaway? Use the new Saturday window for bulky or hard-to-transport items and schedule HI-5 redemptions for Friday mornings. Our two cents? Arrive early during recycling hours (8 a.m.-4 p.m.) to avoid lines and make the most of the expanded service — and hold the county to measurable results so this convenience becomes a permanent, accountable improvement.