Ask the Mayor: What Can Be Done About the Appliances Lining Our Street?

Photo courtesy of Hawaii Energy.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his office staff. Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, call 270-7855 or send them by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Dear Mayor Arakawa,

Q: There are several appliances and appliance parts on my street in Makawao; one is a refrigerator perched at a dangerous angle that’s been there for several weeks. One wonders what the property owners or residents are thinking by not doing anything to take care of this. What can be done about this? How long should we expect to live with appliances lining our residential streets?

A: It appears that a request for appliance pickup was just called in to the county last week, so the property owner may have put the refrigerator out near the roadside prematurely. The two options that residents have for recycling bulky appliances are:

1. Drop off the appliance for free at Hammerhead Metals, located at the Central Maui Baseyard off Mokulele Highway (commercial businesses can drop off items containing freon for a fee); or

2. Call the county to request a free pickup (excludes condos). Upcountry residents should call 572-3958; Central, South and West Maui should call 270-7452. Leave a message with your name and phone number so you can be contacted with an estimated pickup day.