How much Hawaii bottle deposit money goes unclaimed?

$20.8 million in FY 2024. Source: Hawaii State Auditor, Financial and Program Audit of the DOH Deposit Beverage Container Program, June 30, 2024 (Report 25-08). Unredeemed deposits recognized as revenue by the state program.

What is the Hawaii bottle return rate?

51.8% in FY 2025. This is the redemption rate. Source: Hawaii DOH Office of Solid Waste Management, Annual Report to the 2026 Legislature.

How many people in Hawaii live in a redemption desert?

About 114,908 people. That is 7.9% of people in Hawaii. A desert means the closest return spot is more than 10 miles away, or more than 3 miles in a crowded area.

Where are the redemption centers near me in Hawaii?

Our Hawaii map has 52 return spots. Search by city or ZIP on the Hawaii page.

Where can I return bottles in a rural Hawaii county?

The table on this page lists the closest return spots for the most rural counties. Call ahead before you drive.

Redemption Deserts · Hawaii

Hawaii redemption deserts and unclaimed deposits

Can people in Hawaii get their deposit back? It depends on where they live. Here is how far people live from a place to return bottles and cans.

114,908people live in a redemption desert

7.9%of people in Hawaii (rank 4 of 10)

$20.8 millionunclaimed deposits (FY 2024)

51.8%redemption rate (FY 2025)

How sure are we? High. The list is the full Hawaii Department of Health list of certified redemption centers. Most stores do not take returns.

Key findings for Hawaii

About 114,908 of 1,455,271 people live in a redemption desert.
55,721 people live more than 10 miles from the closest return spot.
62,410 people live in crowded areas more than 3 miles from a return spot.
The typical trip is 1.5 miles in a straight line. 34.5% of people live within 1 mile.
Maui County is hardest hit. 18% of people there live in a desert.
$20.8 million in deposits went unclaimed in FY 2024.

Unclaimed money and return rate

Unclaimed deposits: $20.8 million (FY 2024). Source: Hawaii State Auditor, Financial and Program Audit of the DOH Deposit Beverage Container Program, June 30, 2024 (Report 25-08). Unredeemed deposits recognized as revenue by the state program.
Return rate: 51.8% (FY 2025), the redemption rate. Source: Hawaii DOH Office of Solid Waste Management, Annual Report to the 2026 Legislature.
Deposit: 5¢ (plus a 1¢ fee that is not refunded).

Map of Hawaii counties

Map loads as you scroll…

Worst counties

Hawaii counties with the biggest share of people in a desert
County	People	In a desert	Share	Typical trip
Maui County	164,754	29,630	18%	1.8 mi
Hawaii County	200,629	16,081	8%	3.3 mi
Honolulu County	1,016,508	69,113	6.8%	1.2 mi
Kauai County	73,298	84	0.1%	2.7 mi

Hawaii towns and places where most people live in a desert
Town or place	People	In a desert	Share	Typical trip
Kailua CDP	40,915	35,985	88%	4.7 mi
Lahaina CDP	12,711	12,711	100%	12.8 mi
Laie CDP	6,365	6,365	100%	12.1 mi
Napili-Honokowai CDP	5,933	5,933	100%	14 mi
Hickam Housing CDP	7,581	5,890	77.7%	3.4 mi
Kaneohe Base CDP	9,483	5,694	60%	4.1 mi
Hawaiian Ocean View CDP	4,875	4,875	100%	12.6 mi
Hauula CDP	3,862	3,862	100%	10.8 mi
Kahuku CDP	2,852	2,852	100%	11.3 mi
Waimanalo Beach CDP	4,840	2,509	51.8%	3.5 mi

Best-served places

Hawaii counties with the shortest typical trip
County	People	In a desert	Share	Typical trip
Honolulu County	1,016,508	69,113	6.8%	1.2 mi
Maui County	164,754	29,630	18%	1.8 mi
Kauai County	73,298	84	0.1%	2.7 mi
Hawaii County	200,629	16,081	8%	3.3 mi

Hawaii towns (20,000 people or more) with the shortest typical trip
Town or place	People	In a desert	Share	Typical trip
Waipahu CDP	43,485	0	0%	0.7 mi
Kahului CDP	28,812	0	0%	0.8 mi
Mililani Mauka CDP	21,075	0	0%	0.8 mi
Kapolei CDP	21,411	0	0%	0.9 mi
Kihei CDP	21,423	1,190	5.6%	0.9 mi
Urban Honolulu CDP	350,964	0	0%	0.9 mi
Pearl City CDP	45,318	0	0%	1.1 mi
Kaneohe CDP	37,430	0	0%	1.2 mi

Where to return bottles in rural Hawaii counties

These are the most rural counties. We list the closest return spots to where most people live. Distances are straight-line. Call ahead.

Closest return spots for rural Hawaii counties
County	Typical trip	Closest return spots
Kalawao	4.4 mi	Maui Disposal Molokai Redemption Center (Molokai, 4.3 mi) · Maui Disposal Lanai Redemption Center (Lanai, 25.8 mi) · Reynolds Recycling (Kahului) (Kahului, 38.6 mi)
Hawaii County	3.3 mi	Mr. K's Recycle and Redemption Center (Hilo) (Hilo, 22.6 mi) · Atlas Recycling Center (Hilo) (Hilo, 23.5 mi) · Business Services Hawaii Shipman CRC (Keaau) (Keaau, 24.8 mi)
Kauai County	2.7 mi	Reynolds Recycling (Lihue) (Lihue, 6.8 mi) · Kauai Community Recycling Services (Kapaa) (Kapaa, 8.3 mi) · Kauai Community Recycling Services (Koloa) (Koloa, 9.6 mi)

See all 52 Hawaii return spots · Download county data (CSV)

How we did this

We used 2020 Census data on where people live. We found the closest return spot on our Hawaii list in a straight line. A desert is more than 10 miles away, or more than 3 miles in a crowded area. Read the full method.

Our Hawaii list: Sources: Hawaii Department of Health, HI-5 Deposit Beverage Container Program, certified redemption center lists for Oahu (11/2025), Big Island (10/2026), Maui County (10/2026) and Kauai (3/2020), retrieved 2026-10-14; OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) for one phone number. Law: HRS chapter 342G, part VIII (§§ 342G-101 to 342G-122).