Free Electronic Recycling Program Restricts Certain Items

News release from County of Maui, April 30, 2018

Wailuku, Maui – E-Cycling, Maui County’s free electronic recycling program, will restrict certain items starting Tuesday, May 1, due to changes in the recycling commodities market.

E-Cycling will no longer accept the following items: DVDs and VCRs; phones; audio-visual equipment including AV screens, cameras and projectors; transmission devices; audio equipment including receivers; CD and record players, amplifiers or speakers. These items will have to be landfilled.

The program will continue to accept televisions, computers (including tablets), printers and monitors, along with each device’s power cords, for recycling.

More than 80 percent of the world’s recycled plastic was purchased by China. In an effort to clean its environment, China has restricted recyclable commodities and set strict contamination limits. The E-Cycling program cites this shift in the worldwide recycling commodities market for local restrictions.

“Markets shift and we have to shift, too. We cannot collect a commodity that does not have an end use,” said Marty Mahon, E-Cycling’s program administrator. “Please cooperate and take only acceptable items to E-Cycling.”

E-Cycling does not accept appliances such as washers, air conditioners or microwaves. Residents may take these items for no drop-off charge to Hammerhead Metals in Central Maui Base Yard. For information, call 280-8844.

For general recycling questions, call the Recycle Maui County Hotline at 280-7880. From Lanai, call (800) 270-0125, Ext. 880; from Molokai, call (800) 270-0117, Ext. 7880.

The Maui County E-Cycling program, managed by Habitat for Humanity, is open 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at 901 Lower Main St., Wailuku. For questions, call the E-Cycling information line at 280-6460.