Waste
On O‘ahu, solid waste contributes more to greenhouse gas emissions than industrial processes and product use.
Our office supports better waste management policies and the statewide Aloha+ Challenge goal of 70% waste reduction by 2030.
Key Projects
Disposable Food Ware Ordinance
The Disposable Food Ware Ordinance, adopted as Ordinance 19-30, phases out single-use polystyrene and plastic service ware and food ware products. This will help reduce plastic pollution on O‘ahu. An estimated 80% of all marine debris—primarily plastic—comes from urban runoff.
Disposable Foodware Ordinance Advisory Group
Following the adoption of Ordinance 19-30, the Resilience Office facilitated an Advisory Group of community and industry stakeholders to provide input on the Department of Environmental Services’ amendments to the department’s Administrative Rules.
“Single-use plastic service ware and packaging are major contributors to street and beach litter, ocean pollution, harm to marine and other wildlife, and greenhouse gas emissions, which directly contribute to the global climate crisis.”
Related Work
Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan
Department of Environmental Services
The City's 2019 Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan includes new waste reduction goals for O'ahu to achieve by 2030:
A 25% reduction in per capita waste generation.
A substantial reduction in carbon-based single-use plastics and polystyrene in the waste stream.
Plastic Source Reduction Working Group
State of Hawai‘i Department of Health
The Resilience Office participated as a member of the state-wide Plastic Source Reduction Working Group, which was created by Act 254, passed by the State Legislature in 2019. The Working Group was responsible for submitting a report to the Legislature of its findings and recommendations for reducing and recovering plastic from Hawai‘i’s waste stream.
Visit the City’s Department of Environmental Services website for more waste information, news, updates, and resources.
Get Involved
Looking for ways to learn more about how you can reduce waste, track waste policy, or join our community’s efforts to clean up plastic from our environments? These organizations have more resources and ways to get involved:
Note: These links are provided for informational purposes only, and do not constitute an endorsement by or partnership with the City and County of Honolulu.