By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: County trash pickup on Maui costs $444 a year for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), billed in advance as two $222 payments due in June and December. Service starts about 7 to 10 days after your account is set up, and the County does not accept cash or cards in person, per the County of Maui.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui. When people budget a move, trash pickup on Maui rarely makes the list, but it’s one of the first accounts a new homeowner needs to set up. It works differently here than in many mainland cities: you open a County account, pay in advance, and recycling is mostly drop-off. Here’s how it works as of fall 2026.

How much does trash pickup cost on Maui?

The County’s residential refuse fee is $444 a year on Maui and Molokaʻi and $222 a year on Lānaʻi for FY2027, according to the Department of Environmental Management. That’s about $37 a month on Maui.

Fee (FY2027)	Amount
Residential refuse collection, Maui and Molokaʻi	$444 per year ($222 every six months)
Residential refuse collection, Lānaʻi	$222 per year ($111 every six months)
Online payment processing	2.15% added by the third-party vendor
Reopening a delinquent account	$50
Replacing a lost or negligently damaged cart	$105
Appliance (white goods) pickup	$25 per item
Residential drop-off at Central Maui Landfill	$5 per vehicle

Source: County of Maui, Residential Service Fee & Payment Information and Solid Waste Division FY2027 general information pamphlet, as of October 2026.

The County says fees are collected in advance and can change through the annual budget ordinance effective July 1. If a bill goes unpaid, the account becomes delinquent and service is interrupted.

How do I start County trash service on Maui?

Submit the County’s Residential Solid Waste Services application and pay the fee. The County’s FAQ says service can begin about 7 to 10 days after payment or account setup. If you’re closing on a home, ask the seller whether the property has an active refuse account and plan for the gap.

Payment options are limited. You can pay online through the County’s vendor (with the 2.15% fee), or by check or money order by mail or in person at One Main Plaza, 2200 Main St., Suite 200, in Wailuku. The County says cash and credit cards are not accepted at its offices.

A few more rules worth knowing:

• Carts are County property, tracked by serial number. Don’t sell or transfer one, and tell the billing office when you move.
• An additional cart requires a separate account for each legally permitted dwelling unit. A detached cottage can have its own account if one cart isn’t enough.
• Call the Solid Waste Division at (808) 270-7720 before you move out to close the account and ask about refunds.

If you’re buying a condo, ask the association whether the complex uses County carts or its own trash service, since that affects whether the cost is already part of your HOA dues.

What can go in a Maui trash cart?

Household trash only, and the lid must close. The County won’t pick up extra bags or loose items left beside the cart, and carts must be at the curb by 5 a.m. on collection day and brought back in the same day.

Items banned from curbside pickup include lumber over three feet, concrete, rocks, soil, tile, mattresses, furniture, large appliances and household hazardous liquids or wet paint. Yard trimmings set out for curbside collection must be bundled, no more than three feet long or 50 pounds.

Does Maui have curbside recycling?

Plan on drop-off. The County’s recycling page lists drop-off sites and doesn’t describe a curbside recycling program, so ask the Recycling Hotline if you’re unsure about your area. As of October 2026, County-listed sites include:

• Central Maui Landfill (Pūlehu Road), Monday–Saturday, 6 a.m.–3 p.m., accepting mixed paper, cardboard, metal cans, No. 1 and 2 plastic bottles, and glass bottles and jars
• Kīhei Recycling Center (Welakahao Road), daily, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• Makawao and Haʻikū recycling centers, Wednesday–Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• Aloha Recycling, 75 Amala Place, Kahului, which has offered temporary County drop-off service since July 2026

Central Maui lost its County recycling center when the UHMC Recycling Center in Kahului closed on June 30, 2026, after the County’s agreement with the college ended. The County announced the temporary Aloha Recycling arrangement on July 28, 2026, and says it’s working on a permanent Central Maui site. Check hours with the County Recycling Hotline at (808) 270-7880 before you go.

Where do bulky items and appliances go?

The County picks up appliances for $25 each by application, and its recycling page lists free appliance drop-off for residents at Hammerhead Metals Recycling. Household green waste is accepted at County landfills, and the County lists free residential green waste drop-off at Maui Eko Systems at Central Maui Landfill. Residential passenger tires can be dropped off free by appointment with E-H International.

Plan ahead on move-in day: moving boxes, packing material and old furniture can’t go in the cart, so map out a landfill or recycling run.

My Take: What I’m Telling People Budgeting a Move to Maui

Trash is a small line item, about $37 a month for a single-family home, but it’s one more fixed cost that doesn’t show up on a listing. When comparing a single-family home with a condo, I’d put refuse, water, sewer and electricity next to the HOA dues so the comparison is apples to apples. Some condo dues cover services a homeowner pays for separately.

My practical checklist for buyers: ask the seller or association how trash is handled and whether the account is current, open your County account as soon as you have a closing date, and note the nearest recycling drop-off before you move in. My Maui cost of living guide and new resident checklist cover the other accounts and deadlines.

Maui Trash Pickup FAQ

How much is trash pickup on Maui?
$444 a year for FY2027 on Maui and Molokaʻi, billed as $222 every six months.

Can I pay my Maui refuse bill with a credit card?
Not in person. Online payments go through a third-party vendor with a 2.15% processing fee.

How long does it take to start trash service?
About 7 to 10 days after payment or account setup, per the County.

Where can I recycle in Kahului?
Aloha Recycling at 75 Amala Place offers temporary County drop-off, and Central Maui Landfill accepts common recyclables Monday through Saturday.

Ask Benjamin

Planning a move to Maui and want help comparing the real monthly costs of different homes and condos? I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and I’m happy to help. Call or text me at 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: County of Maui Department of Environmental Management (Residential Service Fee & Payment Information; Residential Refuse Collection FAQs; Solid Waste Division FY2027 general information pamphlet; Recycle page); County of Maui news releases (June 26 and July 28, 2026); Maui Now (June 27 and July 28, 2026).