Hawaii’s Advance Disposal Fee system is a state-managed program that adds a fee to certain products at the time of purchase. This fee is not a deposit and is separate from other recycling initiatives like the HI-5 beverage container deposit program. The system is designed to address the environmental impact and disposal costs of specific goods entering the state.
Understanding Hawaii’s Advance Disposal Fee
The Advance Disposal Fee (ADF) is a charge applied to certain goods to cover the costs of their eventual disposal and recycling. Governed by state law, specifically under programs administered by the Hawaii Department of Health, the fee is intended to manage waste and promote recycling for items that are difficult or costly to handle through conventional waste streams. It is a pre-paid fee collected at the retail level.
This system is built on the principle of product stewardship, where manufacturers, importers, and consumers share responsibility for the environmental impact of products. The ADF provides a dedicated funding source for state-run programs that are tasked with diverting specific materials from landfills. By collecting the fee upfront, the state aims to create a sustainable financial model for recycling and proper waste management, independent of general government budgets.
Products Requiring an Advance Disposal Fee
The primary product subject to the Advance Disposal Fee is non-deposit glass containers.1Justia Law. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 342G-82 (2024) – Advance disposal fee. Since 1994, Hawaii has implemented the ADF on these containers to encourage their diversion from landfills.
Other products are managed through different fee or disposal systems that are often confused with the ADF. For instance, the HI-5 deposit beverage container program has its own non-refundable “Deposit Beverage Container Fee.” For new tires, importers pay a surcharge to the Department of Health. State law then requires retailers to include the cost of disposal in the final purchase price of the tire, rather than adding a separate fee at the point of sale. Retailers must post a notice for customers stating that the final price includes the cost of disposing of an old tire.2Justia Law. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 342I-23 (2024) – Motor vehicle tires; collection for recycling.
How Consumers Pay for Product Disposal
For products covered by the Advance Disposal Fee, such as non-deposit glass, consumers pay the charge at the time of purchase. The fee is collected by the retailer and is itemized on the receipt, showing the base price of the item and the separate state-mandated environmental fee. The legal responsibility for remitting fees to the state rests with the product importers or distributors, ensuring a consistent collection mechanism.3Justia Law. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 342G-85 (2021) – Container inventory report and payment.
Where Your Advance Disposal Fee Money Goes
The revenue generated from the Advance Disposal Fee is managed by the Hawaii Department of Health and deposited into a special fund designated for the program.4Justia Law. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 342G-84 (2024) – Deposit into environmental management special fund; distribution to counties. This money directly supports the infrastructure needed for recycling in Hawaii, paying for the collection, transportation, and processing of materials like non-deposit glass.
Other recycling programs are funded separately. The HI-5 program, for example, is sustained by its own revenue sources, including unredeemed deposits and the Deposit Beverage Container Fee, to pay for its operational costs. Similarly, the surcharge on new tires helps fund the management and recycling of that specific waste stream.