Ask The Mayor: Where Do I Recycle an Old Car Battery?

Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his staff.

Q: Where do we recycle old car batteries? We asked several recycling places if they take and the answer was no, and they didn’t know where we could drop them off. We asked friends and colleagues and we received false and wrong answers. What do we do?

A: My staff contacted several businesses and found most auto parts stores recycle lead-acid car batteries for free. If you have more than a few car batteries, though, they asked that residents call ahead of time to make an appointment. Store locations include E&H International, NAPA Auto Parts and Interstate Batteries.

Starting this month, the county Department of Environmental Management’s Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division is hosting a series of hazardous waste collection events in East Maui and on Lānaʻi.

The annual collection on Maui for household hazardous waste will be held on March 24 by appointment only. Please call 855-325-3222 for appointment and location.

East Maui residents will be able dispose of old car batteries at the Hāna Landfill from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 to March 2. Other acceptable items include large appliances, up to 15 auto tires, propane tanks and scrap metals. Accepted appliances include refrigerators, freezers, A/C units, water coolers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges/stoves, and water heaters. Electronic items include computers, monitors, printers and TVs.

Lānaʻi residents also may dispose of their old car batteries at the Pūlama Lānaʻi Fleet Yard from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 16. Other accepted items include refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, microwaves, water heaters, A/C units, tires, household appliances, propane tanks and scrap metal. Electronics are not accepted.

Molokaʻi residents may deliver auto batteries, scrap metals, large appliances, tires, and propane tanks to the Molokaʻi Metals Facility located at the Molokaʻi Landfill during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

It’s vitally important that we recycle our car batteries since nearly 90% of all lead-acid batteries are recycled.

Old car batteries must be properly recycled because they are banned from our landfills. If they are illegally dumped, the casings corrode and can lead to chemicals leaching into soils and eventually reaching our water supply as well as oceans. Scientists have linked lead to birth defects and to neurological and developmental damage.

For more information about these county recycling events, please call the county Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Office at (808) 270-8217 or visit www.mauicounty.gov/eps.

Want to ask the Mayor?

Submit your Maui County related questions to Mayor Michael Victorino by email at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at (808) 270-7855 or via mail to 200 S. High Street, ninth floor, Wailuku, Hawaiʻi 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.