City to update search for new Oahu landfill

Honolulu: The clock is ticking for Mayor Rick Blangiardi and his team. They have until December 31 to find a new landfill site to replace the aging Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, which is set to close by 2028. This isn’t the first time the city has faced such a deadline, but it’s definitely one of the most pressing.

City officials had previously hinted at naming a new site in November, but now they’re planning to make an announcement during a news conference on Tuesday. However, there’s a catch: the proposed site might not even be usable without changes to state law. The Department of Environmental Services says the state Legislature needs to amend Act 73, which currently restricts where landfills can be located.

Making those legal changes could take a while, and there’s a lot of public concern about where the new landfill will go. The mayor has promised that no new site will be in West Oahu, but there are still several potential locations being considered, including some in Windward Oahu.

During a recent update, the city’s Environmental Services Director mentioned that they’re looking at various properties, but many of them would require changes to the existing law. This law has strict rules about how close landfills can be to residential areas, schools, and conservation lands.

There’s also pushback from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which doesn’t want a landfill in areas that could affect the island’s water supply. Some potential sites are near the H-3 freeway and other locations that have raised eyebrows among community leaders.

Local officials are questioning the city’s criteria for selecting these sites. Some are frustrated that the city hasn’t communicated well with the community about the process. The Kailua Neighborhood Board, for instance, hasn’t received any updates, and residents are left in the dark about where these proposed sites are.

As the city scrambles to find a solution, they’re also exploring the option of shipping waste off the island as a temporary fix. They’ve put out a request for information to see if this could be a viable alternative while they figure out the landfill situation.

With the current landfill taking in a massive amount of waste each year, the pressure is on to find a suitable and legal location for Oahu’s waste management needs. The community is eager for answers, and the upcoming announcement could shed some light on what’s next for Honolulu’s waste disposal plans.