Mayor uncertain of landfill close date
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Mayor Mufi Hannemann has said he's not sure if the Waimanalo Gulch landfill can close as scheduled in 2008. That warning has intensified the fears of area residents that the Wai'anae Coast will be absorbing O'ahu's garbage for a long time to come.
Hannemann, who pledged while running for mayor in 2004 to "try" to close O'ahu's only municipal landfill on time, told state lawmakers this week it may not happen.
The deadline was set under Mayor Jeremy Harris' administration.
"I'm still trying my best to close it," Hannemann said. "The problem is we haven't made any progress in the other areas."
The mayor said he faces pressure from the state Health Department — which oversees the Wai'anae Coast landfill — to explain how he plans to dispose of garbage in the coming years.
On an island with limited space for landfills, city officials have been searching for innovative solutions that are economical, efficient and won't stink up somebody's backyard. After months of sometimes acrimonious debate, the City Council in late 2004 voted to keep the island's landfill at Waimanalo Gulch, resisting pressure to open a new landfill elsewhere.
Wai'anae resident Jo Jordan said she's not surprised to hear Hannemann predict a delay in closing the landfill and doesn't want to see another landfill in her community.
But she said it's clear the city doesn't have another option now. She'd rather see the city continue to fill the existing landfill while really preparing now for future solid-waste disposal and not wait until 2008 to start.
"What has the city done?" Jordan asked. "I haven't seen them do much about locating another site." She estimated that starting a new landfill is almost a three-year process.
Hannemann said he is in the process of working through both short- and long-term solutions that could include:
Hannemann said, "Everything is on the table." However, he said that shipping waste out of state is likely to be expensive and would cut city revenues because tipping fees would not be collected if the rubbish went elsewhere.
The state agency that oversees the Waimanalo Gulch landfill warned that the city faces a long and complicated process if it intends to extend the life of the landfill.
"Any application involving that facility will probably take a lot of time to process," said Laurence Lau, the Health Department's deputy director. "It's a big job."
City Environmental Services director Eric Takamura said the mayor expects to announce a strategic plan for waste by next month. Takamura said people in the community support the idea of closing landfills, recycling and using other new technology
But Takamura said they don't realize "the alternatives they want us to use are way more expensive."
Councilman Todd Apo, who represents the Wai'anae Coast community, also serves as vice president of the Ko Olina Community Association. The association has pushed hard to close the landfill, which is across Farrington Highway from the resort.
Apo said the city needs to find solutions now.
"It is unfair to ask or expect the West O'ahu community to shoulder this burden any more until all of the alternatives have been analyzed," he said.
"Some of that work may be under way," Apo said. "We just haven't seen it."
Apo said he hasn't seen a conflict between his job with the resort and serving on the Council. "I still will vote on landfill and waste management issues," he said. "Right now, the position of the resort and the community are aligned completely.
"The resort's position is very clear and very in line with the community," he said. "We will not support any new landfill in Wai'anae."
But Apo said the issue was key to his interest in running for office. He said he does recuse himself from matters involving issues with a 2003 lawsuit filed on behalf of Ko Olina and Sen. Colleen Hanabusa.
Longtime Wai'anae resident Cynthia Rezentes is discouraged to hear Hannemann say the closing of the landfill may take longer.
"We knew that was going to be very difficult," she said, but Leeward residents have dealt with garbage for a long time.
Rezentes noted that two private companies are proposing additional landfills in the area, one for construction and demolition waste. "We continue to get dumped on by the rest of the island," she said.
And Rezentes said there's no evidence of a real plan for solid waste. "There's no movement that's apparent to the community. It's very disheartening," she said.
She said they are expecting action from Hannemann. "Our community supported him. ... The belief was he would help the community. "
Councilman Rod Tam, who heads the council's Public Works committee, said Hannemann assured him last week that the city will soon have a timetable and a plan of action for dealing with solid waste in the coming years.
He said he's sympathetic to the Wai'anae Coast community that has to deal with the trucks, noise, stench and presence of the landfill and is supporting some odor-reducing systems.
"I would feel the same way if I was a resident there," he said.
But he also said that the lack of an alternative means "we're not going to be able to close Waimanalo Gulch in the next few years."
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
