LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i County is seeking community input regarding a proposed lateral expansion of the Kekaha Landfill. Picture this, said John Harder of Zero Waste, an expert in solid waste management: In Kekaha, there is an old landfill that looks
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i County is seeking community input regarding a proposed lateral expansion of the Kekaha Landfill.
Picture this, said John Harder of Zero Waste, an expert in solid waste management: In Kekaha, there is an old landfill that looks like a hill (Phase 1), sloping sides and a flat top, which reached height capacity roughly 16 years ago. Across a small valley, there is another hill (Phase 2), which is also about to reach capacity. The proposed expansion, he said, is slated to begin filling waste into the valley between the two hills.
“From engineering aspects and solid waste operational aspects, this makes sense; it’s an empty void and probably the cheapest way to gain additional space and can be done fairly quickly,” he said in an interview last week.
At approximately 33 acres, Phase 1 closed Oct. 8, 1993, according to Mary Daubert, county spokesperson. A day later, Phase 2, which is about 38.5 acres, became operational and is the only active landfill on Kaua‘i.
In hindsight, there were probably alternative ways the island’s garbage could have been handled, but creating an entirely new landfill site is an “extremely difficult, long and involved” process which would “require a lot of political will” that the island does not have time for, said Harder, also know as the “Dump Doctor,” due to the current hasty accumulation of waste.
“To me, it’s the most practical and pragmatic solution,” he said, regarding the Phase 2 expansion. “It’s almost a matter of necessity that they continue to operate in Kekaha.”
Nonetheless, Harder said he hopes the county will simultaneously continue their due diligence in pursuing a new landfill site and finding ways to divert waste, even while an expansion project is underway.
“If not, five years from now they’ll be in the same position,” he said. “You can’t just solve one problem and put off another.”
Harder said matters of recycling and waste diversion are urgent.
The county requests public comments on the proposed lateral expansion of the landfill stay focused on that project at this time.
Community input on recycling or materials recovery facilities will be better heard after the update to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan is completed, likely by June 30, according to Troy Tanigawa of the Solid Waste Division. The council must then approve the plan, which will allow additional opportunities for public comment.
While Tanigawa agreed that “public awareness of the relationship between waste diversion/recycling and the landfill is extremely important,” he would like “to help keep public comment and testimony focused on the draft permit.
“Due to the staff time that is needed to receive, review, record and respond to public input, we are hoping that both public comment and testimony will be specific to the draft permit,” Tanigawa said.
All landfills in the state of Hawai‘i are subject to a permit process, Tanigawa said in an e-mail last week. The process includes an initial permit, a permit renewal every five years for the life of the operation and a permit modification for changes to the landfill’s permitted design and operation, should they be required.
“The process includes a step where the public is provided an opportunity to review the draft permit and provide comments specific to the draft permit,” he said.
The proposed draft permit would allow the county and Waste Management of Hawai‘i, Inc. to continue municipal solid waste operations at the Kekaha Landfill Phase 2 until the permit’s expiration in August 2014 or until its permitted capacity is reached, whichever occurs first, he said.
The public is invited to comment on the draft permit and permit application for the continued operation of the Kekaha Landfill Phase 2. See sidebar for more information on how to get involved.
Want to get involved?
Comments should be mailed to the state Department of Health, Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste Branch, Attention: Steven Chang, 919 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 212, Honolulu, HI 96814, and to the County of Kaua‘i, Solid Waste Division, Attention: Troy Tanigawa, 4444 Rice St., Room 225, Lihu‘e, HI 96766.
• Comments will also be accepted by the county via e-mail at solidwaste@kauai.gov
• The deadline to submit comments is Sunday.
• Comments submitted by mail should be postmarked no later than Saturday.
• Anyone interested in reviewing the draft permit and permit application can do so at the Kekaha Landfill office or at the county’s Solid Waste Management office during normal business hours.
• A public hearing will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m., June 30, at the Waimea Neighborhood Center located at 4556 Makeke Rd.
• For more information or to request an American Sign Language interpreter, materials in an alternate format or auxiliary aid assistance, call 241-4839 at least five business days in advance.
•Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
