Honolulu Expands Food Waste Composting Program Across Oʻahu to Address Landfill Capacity
The City and County of Honolulu is expanding its Green Recycling Organic Waste (G.R.O.W.) program across Oʻahu, requiring all residents using gray, blue, and green bins to place food scraps into the green bin starting October 1. This initiative aims to divert food waste from incineration and instead process it into compost. The program builds upon a pilot launched in six Oʻahu communities: Waipahu, Nānākuli, Hawaiʻi Kai, Mililani, Kailua, and Kalihi. Roger Babcock, director of the city’s Department of Environmental Services, clarified that acceptable items for composting include human food, plants, meat, bones, and shells, but exclude pet waste and liquids. The expansion seeks to increase resident participation in food waste separation, which was previously low, with a reported 15% participation rate during the pilot phase.
