Honolulu to pilot GROW food‑waste composting program in Mililani and six other communities
February 07, 2026 | Honolulu County, Hawaii
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The Department of Environmental Services on Tuesday outlined a new city pilot that will collect food scraps and green waste from curbside carts beginning April 1, 2026.
Henry Gabriel, a recycling-branch representative, told Mililani Mauka Laonani Neighborhood Board 35 the program — called GROW (Green Waste Recycling/Organics Waste) — will start as a six-month pilot in Waipahu, Nanakuli, Hawaii Kai, Mililani (both Mauka and Town), Kailua and Kalihi, with plans to expand island-wide after the pilot.
"We want your wasted food in our green composting cart," Gabriel said. He added the city's contractor, Hawaiian Earth, uses an in-vessel system that can process items typically excluded from backyard composting, including meats, seafood, poultry and bones.
Why it matters: the city estimates roughly 60,000 tons of food waste currently goes to HPOWER 27s waste‑to‑energy facility; officials said diverting organics could reduce landfill pressure and produce a compost product for local use.
What will be accepted: Gabriel listed an extensive set of food and garden materials the city will take in the green cart — fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, rice, coffee grounds and, notably, meat and seafood. He told the board Hawaiian Earth 27s engineering allows them to accept items many municipal programs exclude.
What will not be accepted: liquids, paper/cardboard containers, glass, metal, general plastics and most compostable serviceware remain prohibited. "No bags whatsoever," Gabriel emphasized after a council staffer asked about paper bags; compostable or regular plastic bags are considered contamination.
Household logistics and outreach: the city will host community workshops in pilot areas and provide kitchen containers and two reusable bags to participants. Gabriel recommended freezing scraps until the night before collection and using layering (green waste under food scraps) to reduce moisture and pests.
Drop-off option and processing: residents not on automated curbside service may deliver mixed green+food waste to Hawaiian Earth at the Wahiawa facility (spoken address provided during the presentation). Gabriel said the contractor's in-vessel system speeds processing compared with open windrows and produces a compost where food waste becomes a nitrogen source.
Program oversight and data collection: Gabriel said the recycling branch will inspect pilot-area participation and measure contamination and volume at the receiving facility to shape the citywide rollout and educational materials.
Next steps: the pilot begins April 1. Neighborhood residents are advised to attend workshops and follow city outreach channels for specifics on cart schedules, contamination rules and kitchen kits.
Henry Gabriel, a recycling-branch representative, told Mililani Mauka Laonani Neighborhood Board 35 the program — called GROW (Green Waste Recycling/Organics Waste) — will start as a six-month pilot in Waipahu, Nanakuli, Hawaii Kai, Mililani (both Mauka and Town), Kailua and Kalihi, with plans to expand island-wide after the pilot.
"We want your wasted food in our green composting cart," Gabriel said. He added the city's contractor, Hawaiian Earth, uses an in-vessel system that can process items typically excluded from backyard composting, including meats, seafood, poultry and bones.
Why it matters: the city estimates roughly 60,000 tons of food waste currently goes to HPOWER 27s waste‑to‑energy facility; officials said diverting organics could reduce landfill pressure and produce a compost product for local use.
What will be accepted: Gabriel listed an extensive set of food and garden materials the city will take in the green cart — fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, rice, coffee grounds and, notably, meat and seafood. He told the board Hawaiian Earth 27s engineering allows them to accept items many municipal programs exclude.
What will not be accepted: liquids, paper/cardboard containers, glass, metal, general plastics and most compostable serviceware remain prohibited. "No bags whatsoever," Gabriel emphasized after a council staffer asked about paper bags; compostable or regular plastic bags are considered contamination.
Household logistics and outreach: the city will host community workshops in pilot areas and provide kitchen containers and two reusable bags to participants. Gabriel recommended freezing scraps until the night before collection and using layering (green waste under food scraps) to reduce moisture and pests.
Drop-off option and processing: residents not on automated curbside service may deliver mixed green+food waste to Hawaiian Earth at the Wahiawa facility (spoken address provided during the presentation). Gabriel said the contractor's in-vessel system speeds processing compared with open windrows and produces a compost where food waste becomes a nitrogen source.
Program oversight and data collection: Gabriel said the recycling branch will inspect pilot-area participation and measure contamination and volume at the receiving facility to shape the citywide rollout and educational materials.
Next steps: the pilot begins April 1. Neighborhood residents are advised to attend workshops and follow city outreach channels for specifics on cart schedules, contamination rules and kitchen kits.
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