TOSS YOUR TIRES: MAHALO HAWAIʻI ISLAND FOR A SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING EVENT
TOSS YOUR TIRES: MAHALO HAWAIʻI ISLAND FOR A SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING EVENT
The County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management is thrilled to announce the success of our Toss Your Tires recycling event on September 21, 2024. Thanks to our community’s incredible support and participation, we collected approximately 5,000 tires from 472 vehicles, filling 23 roll-off containers—all in just five hours! This massive effort is a huge step in keeping our island clean and protecting our environment from potential hazards like mosquito breeding and illegal dumping. The recycled tires are being repurposed into useful products and fuel for energy production outside Hawaiʻi.
“Sustainability on our island depends on each of us playing a role in caring for our ʻāina, our community, and our invaluable natural and cultural resources,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “We are deeply encouraged by the community members who responsibly disposed of their tires this past weekend. Their actions have contributed to making our island cleaner, healthier, and more resilient.”
The success of this event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our staff, partners, and volunteers:
- Department of Environmental Management, Recycling and Solid Waste
- Department of Health
- Lex Brodie’s Tires
- Kea‘au Middle School “Greenwaves”
- Big Island Scrap Metal
An Important Reminder for Future Tire Disposal
While this event was a great success, we encourage everyone to utilize existing tire disposal programs. State law requires tire retailers to accept used motor vehicle tires for recycling or disposal when you purchase new tires. This means you should turn in your old tires right at the point of sale, avoiding the need to store them at home. Turning in your tires when you buy new ones is the best way to keep them out of our landfills and our environment.
Thank you to everyone who came out and participated. Together, we have made a significant impact in protecting our ʻāina.
