MOLOAA — Brandon Miranda received the green light to open a green waste facility in Moloaa. He owns a Kilauea-based landscaping company, the Miranda Group Inc., which has its own green waste site. “We started to accumulate green waste during
MOLOAA — Brandon Miranda received the green light to open a green waste facility in Moloaa.
He owns a Kilauea-based landscaping company, the Miranda Group Inc., which has its own green waste site.
“We started to accumulate green waste during our operations, and accumulation became such a hassle, so we decided to create our own composting site on another piece of property,” he said.
But because the facility had room only for the company’s waste, he had to turn the public away, he said. Now, he wants to extend his services to the community.
On Tuesday, the Planning Commission unanimously approved his zoning application to open a green waste facility in Moloaa.
Green Earth Matters, Inc., will be be built east of the intersection of Koolau Road and Kuhio Highway. It will accept tree trimmings, grass and flower cuttings and hedge cuttings.
No structures will be built and the facility will be protected by a hedge.
Another green waste facility, Heart and Soul Organics, operates nearby. Mark Freeman, owner, said it has been composting green waste for 20 years and he’s fine with a little competition.
“I’ve been in competition for 23 years to win the county contract (for green waste),” he said.
Dan Shook, a Moloaa farmer, supports having another site.
“It will be better for us to get better deals,” he said.
But another farmer, David Neeves, raised concerns about fire hazards and traffic safety.
“I do believe we need more green waste facilities on Kauai, but I’m not sure this is the best location,” he said. “Green waste facilities sometimes do combust. And with two right next to each, if one catches on fire, the other could catch on fire. There’s not enough water, and there’s not a fire hydrant close.”
The turn onto Koolau Road is also a concern, Neeves said.
“There’s no turn lane. There’s already trucks turning in there, and there’s many people going to the beach and the fruit stand,” he said. “It’s very potentially dangerous right there.”
The Department of Health requires Green Earth Matters, Inc. to have a certain amount of berms, tree lines and water trucks, Miranda said.
“All of that is in place,” he said.
A timeline of the project wasn’t provided.
