It All Starts With You
The recycling process actually starts with you: standing in your kitchen or garage, deciding what goes in the trash and what gets a second life.
The golden rule is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – in that order. That means that before you even get to “Recycle” – before you visit us, you can make a difference. Start with avoiding excessive packaging when you can and reusing containers when they’re still good.
With all (eligible) items left over, come visit our HI-5 redemption centers, where you get actual cash back for eligible beverage containers.
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Step 1
Set Up a Home Recycling Station to Make it Easy
Here’s how to quickly and easily make a system for a small recycling center at your home.
- Have separate bins for HI-5 plastic, glass and aluminum (this makes it easier when it’s time to drop off items)
- Empty all containers before putting them in your recycling bins.
- Remember that glass is easiest to transport in bins or buckets. If you use trash bags, please do not over-fill where there is a risk of the bag breaking.
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Step 2
Drop Off at Our Redemption Center
Once you’ve got your bags of cans, bottles, and plastic ready to go, head to your nearest redemption center. Aloha Recycling runs four locations across the island. Our staff is friendly and helpful. They’ll walk you through it if you’re new or just not sure where everything goes.
Bring your containers clean, Use buckets or bins for glass to avoid busted trash bags. Easy.
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Step 3
Behind the Scenes – Sorting and Shipping
Once your containers are dropped off and you’ve got your HI-5 refund in hand, the real behind-the-scenes work kicks off. At Aloha Recycling, everything is sorted by material:
- Aluminum
- PET plastic (clear water bottles)
- Glass
- Cardboard
After sorting, it all gets baled – packed tightly into blocks for easier transport – and shipped off-island.
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Step 4
Where It All Goes
This is the part when your recyclables go on to become other useful things. Here’s what that actually looks like:
- Aluminum cans – More aluminum cans
Shipped to California, then to a Midwest factory for rebirth. Saves 95% of the energy vs. making new. - Plastic bottles – Carpet and sleeping bags
Just 36 two-liter bottles can stuff one sleeping bag. These are often sent to China for manufacturing. - Glass – Bottles and jars
Sorted by color in Oakland, melted down, and turned into new containers. - Cardboard – More cardboard, egg cartons
Recycling 1 ton saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Why Recycling Matters
None of us want to live in a place where old soda bottles and pizza boxes pile up in landfills. Recycling helps prevent that. But it also:
- Saves energy
One recycled aluminum can is enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours. - Reduces air and water pollution
Using recycled materials instead of raw ones can cut pollution in half. - Preserves natural resources
Every ton of cardboard recycled saves trees and water. - Puts money in your pocket
20 HI-5 containers = $1. A family of four drinking two beverages a day could earn $12 a month. That’s your money. Go get it.
Recycling Helps Us All
By recycling, you know that you’re making a difference. You’re helping to keep Maui beautiful, reducing waste, and supporting a local business that’s been doing this work since 1993.
Recycling doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be consistent.
Visit Aloha Recycling
We stay open during lunch. We won’t turn you away because our bins are full. And yes, we’ll pay you in cash for your HI-5 items.
Four locations across Maui | Open during lunch | Friendly, helpful staff
HI-5 Certified Redemption Center – Cash Only
