Ask the Mayor: How Do I Dispose of Old Appliances?

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: I recently bought a new refrigerator but the store wanted to charge me a lot to deliver the new fridge and haul away the old one. I ended up bringing the new fridge home in my truck, so how do I properly dispose of the old one?

A: Residents can drop off unwanted household appliances for free at Hammerhead Metals Recycling (280-8844); commercial businesses may drop off items containing Freon for a fee. Hammerhead is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon, and the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m.to noon. The other option is to request a free county pickup through the Solid Waste Division of the Dept. of Environmental Management. Central, South Maui and West Maui residents may call 270-7452; Upcountry residents should call 572-3958. For both numbers, leave a voicemail with your name and contact number. You will be contacted with an estimated pickup day. On the day before your scheduled pickup (not sooner), the appliance should be placed securely and safely at the curb with your house number visible on the appliance. You do not need to have a residential refuse account to request an appliance pickup, but be aware that the county cannot pick up appliances from condominiums, apartment complexes or gated communities.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at [email protected], by phone at 270-7855 or 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.