LIHU‘E — With less than two hours remaining in the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center donation event, a stack of cars lined the Kaua‘i Resource Center on Ahukini Road on Friday afternoon.
“We’ve already gone through two containers,” said David Chung, the team leader for the ARC crew arriving from O‘ahu to spearhead the monthly collection. “We have to start the overflow. I estimate at least a half container by the time we shut down.”
More than 160 cars had already gone through the donation event that started at 8 a.m. at the location next to the Lihu‘e Refuse Transfer Station. And estimating at the rate of about 7,000 pounds filling a shipping container, the Friday collection figures to more than 14,000 pounds of material that would otherwise end up in the landfill.
This is a lot more than the June collection event where less than a hundred cars flowed through the Kaua‘i Resource Center.
“There was high school graduation,” an ARC worker chirped while unloading a car. “Plus, it was raining. It’s not raining, today.”
Chung said one of the frequent questions contributors ask is “When is the next trip?”
“We’ll be back here, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Chung said. “We usually come a few days ahead because there’s work to be done. But, we’ll be at the KRC on July 21.”
According to a reminder press release from the county — residents, businesses and other organizations can bring in unwanted or unneeded items for reuse, including clothing, small furniture, children’s toys, books and shoes. Clothing and textiles do not need to be in good condition. Torn or stained clothing is allowed.
What is not allowed are eWaste, chemicals, appliances or broken items.
The county’s Solid Waste Division encourages the public to check with their local thrift stores to see if the thrift stores are capable of accepting donations before bringing the items to the KRC collection.
Due to health and safety concerns due to heavy equipment in the area, and to reduce the chance of injury to customers unloading heavy items, the Salvation Army requests that the public remain in their vehicles while on-site for contributions.
The ARC also offers pick-up services to thrift stores and businesses, and interested parties should call 808-241-4336 to schedule new service.
Individuals who would like home pick-up service should contact the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 808-335-6105.
Based on the 14,000 pounds on this current collection, Kaua‘i residents, businesses, and organizations have brought more than 84,000 pounds, or roughly 42 tons of material that would have ended in the landfill since the start of 2023. The amount is more because there are months when Chung orders three high-capacity shipping containers.
For general information about general recycling or reuse, visit www.kauai.gov/recycling, www.kauai.gov/reuse, or call 808-241-4841.
