While visiting Brooklyn, I noticed they have a great system for recycling kitchen scraps. Residents toss food waste in the same bin as yard waste. Back in Hawaii Kai, our food scraps go in the grey trash bin, not the green one meant for composting. It makes me wonder if Honolulu could step up its game.
Good news! Honolulu is about to launch a pilot program called G.R.O.W (Green Recycling Organic Waste). Starting April 1, 2026, if you live in Waipahu, Nanakuli, Hawai‘i Kai, Mililani, Kailua, or Kalihi, you can add food scraps to your green compost cart. This program will eventually expand to the entire island.
Unlike New York City’s mandatory composting, this pilot will be optional for those on the selected routes. Participants will be encouraged to join in, and the city plans to provide clear guidance on how to dispose of food waste properly. For instance, you can save scraps in your fridge and place them in the green cart the night before collection. To reduce odors, layering food scraps with yard clippings is also a good idea.
Right now, residents should continue putting food waste in the gray bin, where it’s incinerated at the H-POWER plant.
Interestingly, Honolulu already requires larger food establishments to separate and recycle food waste. To learn more about this law, check out this link.
In comparison, New York’s curbside composting program is mandatory. You can read more about it here.
Being part of these recycling initiatives is important. There’s a growing awareness of our environmental impact, and such programs can have a significant effect. A recent Pew Research study found that nearly 72% of Americans support stronger recycling programs. It’s clear that many people want to do their part.
Finally, speaking of community, I’d like to say thanks to our public libraries. They provide great activities for all ages, whether it’s for my toddler or my grandmother. Visiting libraries is a wonderful way to explore different Oahu neighborhoods, especially as my husband and I consider buying a home.
So, here’s to greener practices and community places that bring us together!
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