Employees found the unexploded ordnance on Tuesday afternoon in the metals collection area of the recycling company located on East Welakahao Road. It was moved to the end of the property in an open field area, away from machinery and containers.

On Wednesday, the Hawaii Inter-Island Bomb Squad — Maui unit responded to the recycling company.

Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal also was contacted and informed of the finding, later identifying the ordnance as a 60 mm high explosive mortar. The ordnance was recovered and safely disposed of at an off-site location.

Since the company recycles rock, dirt, concrete and asphalt dropped off by the public, it is undetermined where or when the mortar arrived on the property, police said.

Police asked the public to refrain from handling ordnances directly and to contact the department for assistance upon finding unexploded ordnances.