Maui County apartment and multifamily property owners and community managers: simplify recycling compliance while boosting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service aligns with the Maui County Recycling Section’s landfill diversion programs and State of Hawaiʻi solid waste laws to reduce contamination and enforcement risk — all with a turnkey, inspector-friendly program that keeps residents happy.
In Hawaiʻi, there are no incorporated cities or towns; local services are provided at the county level. That means communities like Wailuku, Lahaina, Kīhei, Kahului, and Pukalani all follow the same Maui County recycling and solid waste rules, backed by statewide laws in Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 342H (Solid Waste Pollution). Maui County focuses on landfill diversion through Residential Recycling Drop Box Centers, HI-5 redemption, and education programs that apply across single-family and multifamily neighborhoods.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Cleaner, code-aligned trash and recycling areas improve curb appeal, reduce overflow, and support higher resident retention across Maui’s competitive rental and resort markets.
- Resident Convenience & Cleanliness: Doorstep collection reduces cart room crowding, dumpster overflow, litter, and contamination — especially in dense multifamily communities and resort-style properties.
- Compliance Simplified: Program design that matches Maui County’s recycling and drop-off guidelines and Hawaiʻi’s solid waste and illegal dumping laws, so you stay ahead of notices and fines.
- Code-Backed Design: Inspector-friendly container layouts, signage, resident education, and documentation to help you avoid daily civil penalties at both the County and State level.
At a Glance: Maui County vs State of Hawaiʻi Solid Waste Rules
Maui County (All Communities)
- Mandate Type: Integrated solid waste and recycling framework focused on landfill diversion and Zero Waste — not a standalone “multifamily-only” recycling mandate. Residential solid waste includes both single-family and apartment/multifamily dwellings.
- Applicability Threshold: No published “X+ unit” trigger for apartments. Expectations apply countywide to all residential properties, including multifamily communities, to use proper disposal routes and County programs.
- Duties for Properties: Provide appropriate trash and recycling service for residents, use permitted facilities, discourage illegal dumping, and follow County guidelines for what can be recycled at Drop Box Centers and other programs.
- Enforcement: Maui County may issue a notice of violation requiring:
- Cease and desist from the violation
- Correct the violation at the owner’s expense by a specified date
- Pay a civil fine up to $1,000 by a specified date
- Pay a civil fine of up to $1,000 per day for each day the violation persists (Maui County Code § 19.530.030; see related County FAQs)
- Key Maui County Links:
Maui County Recycling Section – Overview
Residential Recycling Guidelines
Drop-Off Center Recycling Guidelines
Maui County Code § 19.530.030 – Administrative Enforcement
County FAQ – Consequences of Non-Compliance
State of Hawaiʻi – Solid Waste & Illegal Dumping
- Mandate Type: Statewide solid waste control under HRS Chapter 342H (Solid Waste Pollution), implemented by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH). County programs operate under this umbrella.
- Applicability: Applies to any person or entity that generates, transports, or disposes of solid waste, including apartment and multifamily properties, haulers, and businesses.
- Duties: Use permitted solid waste facilities, avoid illegal dumping, comply with permit conditions and DOH rules, and manage waste in a manner that protects public health and the environment.
- Enforcement & Penalties: Under HRS § 342H-9, DOH may seek civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each separate violation. DOH guidance on illegal dumping notes:
- Administrative and civil penalties up to $10,000 per day per offense
- Higher criminal penalties (up to $25,000 per day) and potential felony charges for large-volume, knowing illegal dumping (e.g., ≥10 cubic yards)
- Key State Links:
HRS Chapter 342H – Solid Waste Pollution
HRS § 342H-9 – Penalties
DOH Administrative & Civil Penalty Policy (PDF)
DOH Illegal Dumping Notice (PDF)
eHawaii – Recycling & Waste Portal
Fines & Penalties Snapshot – Maui County & State of Hawaiʻi
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Maui County – Civil Fines for Non-Compliance:
For many County program violations (including environmental and land use), Maui County uses an administrative enforcement process. A notice of violation may:
• Order the violator to cease and desist;
• Require correction at the owner’s expense by a specified date;
• Impose a civil fine up to $1,000; and/or
• Impose a civil fine of up to $1,000 per day for each day the violation persists.
This structure is referenced in County FAQs and implemented under Maui County Code § 19.530.030. -
Maui County – Business Non-Compliance Example:
In some County FAQs, businesses that fail to comply with County rules (including environmental requirements) may face:
• A civil fine of $500 per day of violation; and
• In the case of a continuing violation, the daily fine may be doubled on the first day of each 30-day period after the correction deadline, up to a maximum of $1,000 per day.
These examples illustrate how Maui County escalates fines when violations continue. -
State of Hawaiʻi – Solid Waste & Illegal Dumping Penalties:
Under HRS § 342H-9, any person who violates Chapter 342H, related rules, or permit conditions may be fined up to $10,000 for each separate offense, with each day of violation treated as a separate offense. DOH guidance on illegal dumping explains that:
• Administrative and civil penalties may reach $10,000 per day per offense;
• Knowing disposal of larger volumes can trigger higher criminal penalties (including fines up to $25,000 per day and possible felony charges).
For an apartment or multifamily community, mismanaged waste or unpermitted dumping could therefore invoke both County and State enforcement.Authoritative Links:
HRS § 342H-9 – Penalties · DOH Penalty Policy (PDF) · DOH Illegal Dumping Notice (PDF) - Tip: By maintaining service contracts, recycling container maps, resident education records, and photos of clean, well-signed recycling areas, you give County or State inspectors a clear, documented story of good-faith compliance — the best way to minimize daily penalties and enforcement escalations.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist (Maui County Apartments & Multifamily)
| Task | Action / Requirement | Authoritative Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Governance |
Verify that your community is under Maui County (all communities on Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi’s Maui County areas are). Hawaiʻi has counties but no incorporated cities or towns, so:
• City-style names like Wailuku, Lahaina, Kīhei, and Kahului are communities within Maui County, not separate city governments with their own recycling ordinances. • Solid waste, recycling, and enforcement policy is driven by the County, under the umbrella of State of Hawaiʻi law (HRS 342H). |
Census – Hawaiʻi Local Government Structure Overview – Counties, No Incorporated Municipalities eHawaii – Recycling & Waste Portal |
| ☑ Subscribe to Appropriate Trash & Recycling Service |
Make sure your property has documented service for both trash and recycling:
• Use permitted haulers or subscription curbside recycling services where available. • Size service to match the number of residents and the volume of recyclables (cardboard, metals, glass, plastics) your property generates. • Where curbside service is limited, ensure residents have access to County Drop Box Centers and clearly communicate how to use them. • Keep hauler contracts, invoices, and any self-haul receipts to permitted facilities as proof of proper disposal. |
Maui County Recycling – Program Overview Drop-Off Center Recycling Guidelines Hawaiʻi ISWMP Excerpt – Drop-Off Options (PDF) |
| ☑ Containers, Corral Layout & Signage |
Design container areas so residents can easily keep recyclables separate from trash:
• Provide clearly labeled recycling containers for accepted materials (e.g., cardboard, newspaper, glass containers, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans as allowed at County Drop Box Centers). • Size containers and pickup frequency to prevent overflow and windblown litter. • Use permanent signage at enclosures and cart rooms showing what residents can and cannot place in recycling. • Maintain safe access and clear drive aisles for haulers and residents. |
Residential Recycling Guidelines Drop-Off Center Recycling – Accepted Materials Maui Recycling Section |
| ☑ Resident Education & Communication |
Build a simple, repeatable communication plan so residents know how to recycle correctly:
• Provide written recycling instructions to residents at move-in and on a recurring basis (e.g., twice per year). • Use door hangers, email blasts, community apps, and on-site signage to reinforce what is recyclable and where it goes. • Link residents to the County’s residential guidelines and Drop Box Center information so they see you’re aligned with official resources. • Keep copies (PDFs, screenshots, printouts) of all recycling communications in your compliance file. |
Residential Recycling Guidelines Recycling & Waste – County of Maui Portal Maui Recycling Section |
| ☑ Documentation & Avoiding Daily Fines |
Create an “inspection-ready” digital or physical binder for your community:
• Current trash and recycling service agreements, invoices, and route or pickup information. • Any self-haul records and disposal receipts to permitted landfills or transfer stations. • Photos of container areas showing signage, cleanliness, and container labels. • A log of resident education mailings, emails, and on-site campaigns. • Notes from internal walk-throughs with corrective actions taken (e.g., contamination cleanup, enclosure repairs). Being organized makes it easier to resolve County or DOH questions before they escalate into $1,000-per-day County fines or $10,000-per-day State penalties. |
Maui County Code § 19.530.030 – Administrative Enforcement County FAQ – Consequences of Non-Compliance HRS § 342H-9 – Penalties |
| ☑ Prevent Illegal Dumping & Nuisance Conditions |
Illegal dumping and misuse of common areas can quickly draw enforcement attention:
• Monitor bulk waste, abandoned items, and overfilled dumpsters that could look like open dumping. • Provide residents with clear instructions for bulky-item disposal and special materials. • Work with haulers and vendors to remove problem piles before they trigger complaints. • Treat known trouble spots (back lots, overflow areas) as priorities for cleanup and better lighting or surveillance where appropriate. |
DOH Illegal Dumping Notice (PDF) DOH Penalty Policy (PDF) HRS Chapter 342H – Solid Waste Pollution |
Need a fast compliance check for your Maui County apartment or multifamily community? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Wailuku, Lahaina, Kīhei, Kahului, or broader Maui County property — we’ll right-size your containers, draft resident education, and prepare inspection-ready documentation so you can avoid daily fines and keep residents happy.
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
