Honolulu Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators
Island disposal at Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill. HI highest state average at $124.25/ton. Extremely limited capacity.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$100–$125+/ton (estimated)
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
Hawaii has the highest state average tipping fee in the US at $124.25/ton (EREF 2024). Oahu has ONE active landfill (Waimanalo Gulch) with contested expansion plans. Island isolation means zero alternatives — every ton of waste stays on the island.
Typical Costs in Honolulu
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW
$100–$125+/ton (est)
$50 minimum load
Basis: Per ton
infoWaimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill is Oahu's only active landfill at estimated $120-125/ton. H-POWER WTE facility processes ~700,000 tons/year with commercial rates around $100-115/ton but requires account setup and minimum tonnage commitments. Both facilities charge $50 minimum even for loads under 1 ton. Call (808) 768-3486 for current rates. Island isolation creates monopoly pricing with zero competitive pressure. Budget $125/ton for planning purposes and treat anything lower as a bonus.
1HI highest disposal costs in US at $124.25/ton average — factor into all job pricing
2Account setup critical — limited facilities mean no walk-in alternatives
3Minimum load charges hit small operators hard — batch loads to 2+ tons when possible
4$50 minimum fee means loads under 1000 lbs cost $100/ton effective rate
C&D
$100–$125+/ton (est)
$50 minimum load
Basis: Per ton
infoC&D accepted at Waimanalo Gulch at same rates as MSW — no discount for construction debris. Island isolation means recycling infrastructure is extremely limited. Separate metals (ferrous $120/ton, non-ferrous $800-1200/ton at local scrap yards) and clean concrete for crushed aggregate operations. Contaminated C&D pays full landfill rate. Drywall and treated lumber may face surcharges due to special handling requirements on island.
1Limited island recycling — maximize metal separation for $800+ commodity pricing
2Clean concrete may qualify for $60-80/ton crushing programs vs $125/ton landfill
3Batch C&D loads to avoid $50 minimum fees on small demo jobs
Green Waste
$40–$60/ton
$25 minimum
Basis: Per ton
infoGreen waste composting offers the only relief from $125/ton disposal rates. Island Recycling Center processes yard waste at $45-55/ton. Hawaiian Earth Recycling accepts clean green waste at $40-50/ton. Both require contamination-free loads — any trash mixed in triggers $125/ton MSW rate for entire load. Separate collection critical. Volume discounts start at 10+ tons/month dropping rates to $35-40/ton for established accounts.
1Route green waste to composting facilities for $60-85/ton savings vs landfill
2Keep loads contamination-free — one bag of trash ruins $85/ton savings
3Build volume relationships for $35-40/ton rates on regular accounts
4Palm fronds and large branches may face surcharges — chip on-site when possible
Appliances
$25–$45/unit
$25/unit
Basis: Per unit
infoAppliance recycling through Schnitzer Steel at $25-35/unit for standard appliances, $35-45/unit for refrigerators/AC units requiring freon removal. Alternative: Habitat for Humanity ReStore takes working appliances free (saves you $35-45/unit). Non-working appliances to landfill pay full $125/ton rate — a typical refrigerator (250 lbs) costs $15 at tonnage rate vs $35 at recycling facility, but recycling keeps material in beneficial use on resource-limited island.
1Working appliances to Habitat ReStore saves $35-45/unit vs recycling fees
2Schedule freon removal appointments — walk-ins face delays and surcharges
3Batch appliance runs to minimize trip costs — fuel expensive on island
4Separate metals from appliances — copper and aluminum bring premium pricing
Tires
$5–$8/tire
$5/tire
Basis: Per tire
infoTire recycling through Island Tire Recycling at $5-6/passenger tire, $8-12/truck tire. No alternatives — tires banned from landfill statewide. Facility requires sorted loads by tire type and size. Mixed loads face $2/tire sorting surcharge. Rims must be separated (steel rims to scrap yard at $120/ton, aluminum rims $800/ton). Budget extra time for sorting requirements — facility enforces strict contamination policies.
1Sort tires by size on-site to avoid $2/tire surcharges
2Separate rims for scrap value — aluminum rims worth $800/ton
3Build relationships with tire shops for regular pickup routes
4Combine tire runs with other material deliveries to same area
Surcharges
Varies
Per item
Basis: Varies
infoIsland logistics add cost to everything. $0.35/ton state environmental surcharge applies to all disposal. Contaminated loads face $50-100 re-handling fees. Oversized items (mattresses, furniture) pay $15-25/item surcharge at landfill. Hazardous materials rejected — must go to quarterly HHW collection events. Gas/oil/paint disposal $5-15/gallon at certified facilities. Traffic delays on H-1 freeway add 30-60 minutes to dump runs during peak hours — factor labor costs.
1Factor $0.35/ton state surcharge into all disposal cost estimates
2Island isolation means zero disposal alternatives — plan for monopoly pricing
3Schedule dump runs off-peak to avoid H-1 traffic delays and overtime labor
4Pre-sort hazmat on-site — rejected loads cost double handling plus disposal fees
Facilities in Honolulu
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (5)
Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill
Oahu's ONLY active landfill — $120-125/ton estimatedRate
$120-125/ton estimated — call (808) 768-3486 for current rates
$50 minimum load
Hours
Mon-Fri 6:00am-4:30pm, Sat 6:00am-2:00pm, Closed Sun
Area
Waimanalo, Oahu (west side, 30 miles from downtown)
Only active landfill on Oahu. Contested expansion plans create uncertainty. Scale house requires commercial account setup with City & County of Honolulu. Loads weighed in/out electronically. Cash not accepted — billing to established accounts only. Allow 45-90 minutes from Honolulu depending on H-1 traffic. Contamination inspections enforced — hazmat rejected with re-handling fees.
Schnitzer Steel Hawaii
Island scrap market — metals command export premium despite shipping costsRate
Ferrous $0.06/lb, Copper $2.80/lb, Aluminum $0.45/lb (market rates)
No minimum
Hours
Mon-Fri 7:00am-4:00pm, Sat 7:00am-12:00pm, Closed Sun
Area
Keehi Lagoon, Honolulu (near airport)
Largest scrap processor on Oahu. Export-focused operation ships containers to Pacific Rim markets. Scale house weighs loads in/out. Separate ferrous/non-ferrous before arrival — contamination reduces pricing. Copper theft concerns require ID verification and transaction records. Still profitable to separate metals at $125/ton landfill alternative.
Island Recycling Center
Green waste composting — $45-55/ton vs $125/ton landfillRate
$45-55/ton, volume discounts at 10+ tons/month
$25 minimum load
Hours
Mon-Fri 7:00am-4:00pm, Sat 7:00am-1:00pm, Closed Sun
Area
Campbell Industrial Park, Kapolei
Largest green waste processor on Oahu. Produces compost for local agriculture and landscaping. Strict contamination policies — any trash triggers $125/ton MSW rate for entire load. Large palm fronds require additional processing fee of $10/ton. Loads inspected at scale house. Cash accepted for loads under $100.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Honolulu
Free diversion for working items — saves $125/ton disposal costsRate
Free; tax receipt provided
No minimum
Hours
Mon-Sat 9:00am-5:00pm, Closed Sun
Area
Kalihi-Palama, Honolulu
Accepts working appliances, furniture, and building materials. Items must be in resale condition — damage or excessive wear disqualifies donation. Pickup service available for large items with advance scheduling. At $125/ton disposal alternative, aggressive donation sorting critical for margins. Tax receipts provided for donor records.
Hawaiian Earth Recycling
Organic waste processing — $40-50/ton composting alternativeRate
$40-50/ton, $35/ton for 20+ ton accounts
$30 minimum load
Hours
Mon-Fri 6:30am-4:00pm, Sat 7:00am-12:00pm, Closed Sun
Area
Wahiawa, Central Oahu
Organic waste composting facility serving central Oahu. Accepts clean organic materials only — plastics and metals contamination rejected. Produces certified organic compost for local farms. Located in central Oahu — good alternative to west-side facilities for operators in Mililani, Pearl City areas. Volume discounts available for established routes.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
Hawaii has the highest state average tipping fee in the US at $124.25/ton (EREF 2024). Oahu has ONE active landfill with contested expansion — capacity crisis looming.
$0.35/ton state environmental surcharge applies to all disposal. Island facilities require commercial account setup — no cash walk-in service.
Hazardous materials banned from all facilities. Quarterly HHW events only disposal option. Paint, chemicals, batteries require special handling at certified facilities.
Island isolation means shipping waste off-island economically impossible — every ton stays on Oahu permanently. Zero backup disposal alternatives.
Commercial hauler registration required through City and County of Honolulu ENV at (808) 768-3486. Business license, vehicle registration, and insurance verification mandatory.
Scale house accounts require credit application, business references, and minimum monthly tonnage commitments. Setup process takes 2-3 weeks for approval.
Driver training certificates required for H-POWER WTE facility access. Tipping floor safety protocols strictly enforced with suspension penalties for violations.
Oahu traffic patterns add 30-90 minutes to dump runs during peak hours. H-1 freeway congestion unavoidable — factor labor costs into disposal pricing.
H-POWER WTE processes ~700,000 tons/year — 70% of Oahu MSW goes through WTE, not landfill. Understanding the system critical for operators.
Island resource scarcity makes material recovery valuable beyond mainland economics. Metals, clean concrete, and working appliances have premium value due to import costs.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
Aggressive metal separation saves $500-800/ton vs disposal costs. Copper, aluminum, and steel all valuable on island export market.
Working appliances to Habitat ReStore saves $35-45/unit vs recycling fees and $125/ton vs landfill disposal.
Green waste to composting facilities saves $70-85/ton vs landfill. Keep loads contamination-free to avoid $125/ton penalties.
Clean concrete separation for crushing operations saves $45-65/ton vs landfill disposal. Volume required for best pricing.
Donation-quality furniture and household items save $125/ton disposal costs plus provide tax deduction benefits for customers.
Timing Strategy
Schedule dump runs 6:00am-8:00am or 2:00pm-4:00pm to avoid H-1 rush hour traffic. Peak hours add 60-90 minutes to round trips.
Batch weekly loads to single dump day — fuel costs $4.50+ per gallon on island make multiple trips expensive.
Coordinate with other operators for shared loads to meet facility minimums — $50 minimum fees hurt small loads.
Plan Friday afternoon dumps carefully — Saturday hours limited at most facilities, no Sunday service anywhere.
Routing Strategy
H-POWER WTE for contract volume MSW at $100-115/ton vs Waimanalo Gulch $120-125/ton — but requires minimum commitments.
Green waste to Campbell Industrial Park composting saves 15 miles vs Waimanalo Gulch for west-side operators.
Central Oahu jobs route to Wahiawa organic processing — closer than west-side facilities for Pearl City, Mililani areas.
Combine scrap metal runs with Keehi Lagoon area jobs — airport proximity makes routing efficient for metal loads.
Best Practice
Track dump fees per job in ScaleYourJunk. At $125/ton rates, untracked disposal costs destroy margins 3x faster than mainland markets. Document facility accounts, tonnages, and routing efficiency for monthly P&L analysis.
Track Every Dump Fee in Honolulu
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. Stop guessing your margins in Honolulu's high-cost market.
Dump Fees in Honolulu: FAQ
Related Resources
Hawaii Junk Removal Market Guide
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Track Every Dump Fee Automatically
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. Stop losing margin to untracked dump fees in Honolulu's expensive market.
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