Hawaiian Earth Recycling

What Hawaiian Earth Recycling does

Hawaiian Earth Recycling, founded in 1993, is Hawaii's largest green waste recycling company and compost producer, operating a State Department of Health-licensed facility on Oahu and additional drop-off-only or transfer facilities on the Big Island. The company's core technology is industrial composting and material processing that transforms residential and commercial greenwaste, foodwaste, and wood into nutrient-rich soil products, mulches, wood chips, soil amendments, and erosion socks. Products are certified by the U.S. Composting Council and OMRI, with the flagship Menehune Magic Organic Soil Conditioning Compost serving as a branded anchor alongside a portfolio of specialized soil blends (Lawn & Garden Blend, Nursery Mix #1 and #3, Tropical Blend, Greens Blend, Organic Potting Mix, Screened Soil, Bunker Mix, and Custom Blends) tailored to nutrient-deficient Hawaii soils.

The company monetizes through three primary streams: (1) one-time product sales of compost and soil blends at unit pricing of $68-$150 per yard or $12.99 per bag, sold directly at three Oahu facilities with delivery available across Oahu; (2) tipping fees for green waste drop-off at facility truck scales, with per-ton pricing at the Wahiawa main facility and flat-rate per-truck pricing at Waimanalo and Kapolei; and (3) facility tours and educational programming delivered in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services. Scale metrics include approximately 140,000 tons recycled annually across Oahu facilities, equivalent to about 7,500 semi-truck loads per year, and a cumulative diversion of more than 2.6 million tons (one source cites 3 million tons) from landfills since inception.

Customer segments are horizontally oriented and span homeowners and residential gardeners, tree trimmers and landscapers, agriculture and nursery professionals, and government agencies. Distribution is exclusively physical and regional: direct pickup at six facilities across Oahu and the Big Island, delivery service across Oahu, and online bulk ordering for pickup. The company does not currently sell soil products on the Big Island; Big Island operations are drop-off only under a partnership with the County of Hawai'i. Operations are supported by a reported headcount of 1-10 employees, suggesting heavy reliance on partner-operated facilities and outsourced labor.

Name

Hawaiian Earth Recycling

Legal name

Hawaiian Earth Recycling

Website

https://hawaiianearth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hawaiian Earth Recycling is Hawaii's largest green waste recycler and compost producer, processing ~140,000 tons annually across six Oahu and Big Island facilities to serve homeowners, landscapers, tree trimmers, and county governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Composting & Recycling Services

NAICS

Compost Manufacturing (325315), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Solid Waste Collection (562111)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Yard Waste, Land Clearing & Green Waste Processing (Mulch/Compost Feedstock) (BPALAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compost & Compost Blends (AFABADAE), Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste) (BPABALAC), Yard Waste & Green Waste Hauling (Leaves, Grass, Brush) (HSAIAOAA)

Keywords

• Green waste recycling
• Compost production
• Organic soil amendments
• Waste management services
• Soil blending

Headquarters

HQ city

Wahiawa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Soil and Compost Product Sales: Sale of finished compost and soil products including Menehune Magic Compost, various soil blends, potting mixes, and specialty blends. Products sold by yard or bag at retail prices ranging from $68-$150 per yard. One-time product sales model.
2. Tipping Fees (Material Drop-off): Charging tipping fees for green waste drop-off at facilities. Homeowners, tree trimmers, landscapers, and government vehicles deliver yard trimmings. Fees based on material type and truck size (flat rate for Waimanalo/Kapolei, per-ton for Wahiawa main facility).
3. Delivery Services: Delivery services for soil products across Oahu. Customers request quotes via phone or text for bulk deliveries beyond standard pickup.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hawaiian Earth Recycling diverts residential and commercial green waste, food waste, and wood from landfills and transforms it into certified organic compost and specialized soil blends. The company sells products such as Menehune Magic Compost, Lawn & Garden Blend, Nursery Mix #1 and #3, Tropical Blend, Greens Blend, Organic Potting Mix, Screened Soil, Bunker Mix, and Custom Blends, and operates green waste drop-off tipping services and bulk delivery across Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Product overview

Hawaiian Earth Recycling operates as Hawaii's largest green waste recycling company and compost producer, offering a portfolio of organic soil products and environmental services. The core product line includes Menehune Magic branded compost and various specialized soil blends (Lawn & Garden Blend, Nursery Mix #1 and #3, Tropical Blend, Greens Blend) designed for applications ranging from lawn installation to potted plants. Supporting products include Organic Potting Mix, Screened Soil, Bunker Mix, and Custom Blends for tailored specifications. The company complements its product offerings with material drop-off services accepting recyclable yard trimmings, delivery services across Oahu, and facility tours. Products are manufactured with U.S. Composting Council and OMRI certifications, targeting homeowners, landscapers, tree trimmers, and government agencies across Oahu and the Big Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Menehune Magic: Organic soil conditioning compost product line, including Menehune Magic Compost and related soil amendment products. Certified by U.S. Composting Council and OMRI.

Products and services

• Menehune Magic Organic Soil Conditioning Compost Premium all-natural compost rich in organic matter and nutrients, screened to 7/16-inch minus particle size. Designed to revitalize nutrient-deficient Hawaii soils, improve aeration and water retention, and enhance nutrient availability. OMRI-listed and certified by the U.S. Composting Council. Sold by the yard and in 1.0 cubic foot bags.
• Lawn & Garden Blend The company's most popular soil blend, composed of 70% Menehune Magic compost and 30% screened soil. Formulated for new lawn installation and general gardening applications.
• Nursery Mix #3 Soil blend composed of 50% screened soil and 50% Menehune Magic compost, designed for building up landscaping areas or existing lawns in inch increments.
• Nursery Mix #1 Soil blend with approximately 66% screened soil, designed for building substantial height in feet for landscaping or existing lawn applications.
• Tropical Blend Potted plant mix with extra drainage, consisting of 33% Menehune Magic compost, 33% screened soil, and 33% black cinder.
• Greens Blend Top dressing mix for lawns with extra drainage, containing 33% white sand. Designed for leveling lawns and landscape applications.
• Organic Potting Mix Potting mix for potted plants providing nutrients and drainage, made from compost, peat moss, black cinder, and perlite. Available in 1.0 cubic foot bags.
• Screened Soil Screened soil processed to 5/8-inch minus particle size. Suitable for wall construction and landscape applications.
• Bunker Mix Back-fill material with no nutritional value that may have larger particulates. Designed for wall construction applications.
• Custom Soil Blends Customized soil blends manufactured to customer specifications. Pricing available upon quote request.
• Material Drop-Off Service Green waste acceptance service at the Wahiawa main facility, Waimanalo transfer station, and Kapolei/Campbell location. Accepts tree trimmings, unpainted lumber, leaves, branches, logs, garden clippings, grain, coffee grounds, and sod. Per-ton tipping fees at Wahiawa and flat-rate by truck type at Waimanalo and Kapolei apply.
• Delivery Service Bulk delivery service for soil products across Oahu. Customers request quotes by calling or texting (808) 426-6386 or (808) 563-0024.
• Facility Tours Educational tours of the composting facility, available by scheduling through email. Participants tour the licensed Hawaiian Earth Recycling facility monitored by the Hawaii State Department of Health. Tours are part of the Tour de Trash educational program conducted with the Department of Environmental Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 million tons of waste recycled over 33 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Long-standing partnership where Hawaiian Earth Recycling operates a facility in partnership with the City & County of Honolulu to provide residents a location to deposit household greenwaste. Company participates in city environmental programs including Tour de Trash educational tours.
• County of Hawai'icoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with County of Hawaii to operate 3 facilities on the Big Island (East Hawaii Landfill in Hilo, West Hawaii Landfill in Waikoloa, and Kealakehe Recycling in Kailua-Kona) for green waste recycling operations.
• U.S. Composting CouncilminorOthersThird-party certification organization for compost products. Hawaiian Earth Recycling products are tested and certified to meet U.S. Composting Council standards.
• Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)minorOthersThird-party certification organization. Hawaiian Earth Recycling products carry OMRI certification for organic use.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services: Republic Services is a major U.S. environmental services provider with organics recycling and composting lines alongside solid waste collection. Comparable in offering organics processing as part of a broader waste services portfolio; competes for the same municipal and commercial organics contracts that feed Hawaiian Earth's pipeline.
• Recology: Recology is a major California- and Pacific-region waste hauler that operates composting facilities, MRFs, and organics recycling programs. Comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling in operating composting infrastructure integrated with municipal collection contracts, though Recology operates at substantially larger scale across multiple states.
• Waste Management Inc. Waste Management is the largest North American waste and recycling services company, with organics processing and composting capabilities across many markets. Comparable as an incumbent in the broader waste and organics management space; not a niche compost specialist like Hawaiian Earth, but competes for municipal organics contracts.
• Casella Waste Systems: Casella Waste Systems is a regional waste and recycling company in the Northeast U.S. with organics processing and Soilite compost manufacturing. Comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling as a vertically integrated regional player that both collects green waste and sells branded compost products.
• Synagro Technologies: Synagro is a North American biosolids and organics management company operating composting, anaerobic digestion, and land-application programs for municipal clients. Comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling in regulated organics processing under municipal contracts, though operating at much larger national scale with biosolids as a core feedstock.

Direct peers

• GreenWaste Recovery: GreenWaste Recovery is a Northern California-based organics and recycling company that composts green and food waste into soil products. Directly comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling in business model: collecting source-separated organics, composting on-site, and selling finished compost and soil blends to landscapers, municipalities, and consumers.
• Cedar Grove Composting: Cedar Grove operates large-scale commercial composting in Washington State, processing residential and commercial yard and food waste into STA-certified compost sold to retail and wholesale customers. Directly comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling as a vertically integrated composter with a branded product line and municipal feedstock relationships.
• Zanker Recycling: Zanker Recycling operates a materials recovery facility and Greenwaste Composting facility in San Jose, California, processing yard trimmings into compost and mulch. Directly comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling as a regional organics recycler that turns green waste into soil products under long-standing facility partnerships.
• Agromin: Agromin is a Southern California compost manufacturer producing soil products from green waste for retail and bulk sale. Comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling as a regional compost manufacturer with branded bagged and bulk soil blends sold through garden centers and direct pickup.

Emerging players

• Atlas Organics: Atlas Organics operates municipal-scale composting facilities across multiple U.S. states, partnering with cities to process yard and food waste into compost. Comparable to Hawaiian Earth Recycling as a smaller, niche compost operator focused on municipal organics contracts and finished compost sales, though currently expanding into new markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hawaiianearth
• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiian_earth
• Xx.com/HawaiianEarth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawaiian Earth Recycling