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Honolulu, HI trash pickup schedule
Honolulu trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 341,868 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents9 sections
Quick answer
Who collects
The city collects City and County of Honolulu (Department of Environmental Services, Refuse Division) collects island-wide on O'ahu. About 160,000 single-family homes have automated 3-cart service; the remaining ~20,000 homes on manual, refuse-only routes put out their own cans. Apartments and condos follow their property management's disposal directions.2
How often
Trash weekly (gray cart, automated homes); some manual-collection routes are collected twice per week, recycling every other week (blue cart), alternating weekly with the green cart, yard waste every other week (green cart), alternating with the blue cart2
Set out
at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day, but not before 6 p.m. the evening before; carts must be taken back onto the property after collection2
Your pickup day
Carts are serviced on paired days: Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday or Wednesday/Saturday (one day gray cart, the other alternating blue/green).. Address lookup: hnl.info3 · Look up your day here
Refuse collection observes only Christmas Day and New Year's Day. A gray-cart (trash) day falling on those days is made up over the following days (leave the cart out until serviced); blue/green recycling days on those days are skipped (hold until next pickup); twice-weekly manual routes hold until the next pickup. Transfer stations, convenience centers, H-POWER and the landfill close on both days.9
No collection Thursday, Jan 1, 2026. Gray cart: missed collection made up over the next several days (leave cart at curb). Blue/green carts: skipped, hold until next scheduled pickup. All refuse facilities closed, reopen Jan 2.9
Book online with the city's appointment tool (honolulu.sanstar.net, linked from the Refuse Division home page and FAQ) or call (808) 768-3200 option 0; one appointment per address per month (weekly in Waikiki); description and quantity of items required; set out no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening before and by 6 a.m. on the appointment day; placing bulky items at the curb outside appointment dates is illegal.10
Limits
Single-family homes and each unit of multi-unit buildings: up to 5 bulky items per appointment, plus 2 metal appliances per separate appliance appointment; AOAOs/property managers: up to 20 items and 8 appliances; long items/bundles max 6 ft and 60 lb.10
HI-5 deposit containers are redeemed at private redemption centers listed by the city (RRR Recycling, Reynolds Recycling); city blue drop-off bins for residents at Kawailoa Transfer Station (North Shore)15
every other week (green cart), alternating with the blue cart2
Rules
Green cart: grass, leaves, branches, hedge trimmings, palm fronds, natural Christmas trees; no bags, no liquids, paper, plastic, metal, glass, compostable-labeled products, pet waste, dirt or rocks; lid must close.7
Food scraps
Yes - since October 1, 2026 food scraps (incl. meat, bones, dairy solids, bread, coffee grounds) go loose in the green cart island-wide (G.R.O.W. program), for homes with automated 3-cart service.7
Christmas trees
Natural trees (no flocking, decorations removed): put in the green cart, or drop off whole at convenience centers (except Wahiawa), Kapa'a Transfer Station or Hawaiian Earth Recycling, Wahiawa; bulky appointments cannot be made for natural trees; the state's special 'treecycling' park sites are discontinued. (From the 2025-26 holiday notice; 2026-27 notice not yet posted.)9
Residents: dirt, rock, sand, gravel, concrete and dead animals only, delivered by the resident; up to two standard pickup-truck loads per day; dead animals over 70 lb by appointment (808) 668-2985 ext. 11012
Appointment-only drop-off events; drop-off times 9:00-11:45 a.m. The only 2026 event listed is Saturday, November 7, 2026 (registration closed, capacity reached); 2027 dates TBD.14
Trash is collected weekly (gray cart, automated homes); some manual-collection routes are collected twice per week. Carts are serviced on paired days: Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday or Wednesday/Saturday (one day gray cart, the other alternating blue/green).
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Honolulu?
New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Changes; see details: No collection Thursday, Jan 1, 2026. Gray cart: missed collection made up over the next several days (leave cart at curb). Blue/green carts: skipped, hold until next scheduled pickup. All refuse facilities closed, reopen Jan 2.
How do I get rid of bulky items in Honolulu?
By appointment. Book online with the city's appointment tool (https://honolulu.sanstar.net/honolulu-public-client/app/appointments/create-appointment, linked from the Refuse Division home page and FAQ) or call (808) 768-3200 option 0; one appointment per address per month (weekly in Waikiki); description and quantity of items required; set out no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening before and by 6 a.m. on the appointment day; placing bulky items at the curb outside appointment dates is illegal.
Does Honolulu recycle glass?
Glass: accepted in cart.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Honolulu?
Use the city’s online form (honolulu.gov) or call Refuse Division (808) 768-3200.