HONOLULU (KHON2) — In a major win for environmental advocates, state lawmakers passed two bills out of committee banning landfills from being built over aquifers or prime agricultural land.
The bills directly impact Oahu’s new landfill plans, forcing City officials to rethink their waste management strategy. So what happens now?
For years, Oahu has faced a growing waste crisis and city officials have struggled to find a new landfill site.
But with the passage of House Bill 969 and Senate Bill 438, a landfill at the city’s chosen site in an area northwest of Wahiawa, appears at this point, off the table.
State Representative Sean Quinlan, who introduced the bill said protecting Oahu’s drinking water and food supply was a priority.
“To me, it’s really simple that we cannot afford to endanger our freshwater drinking supply. I think one thing we learned from Red Hill, is that we can’t allow it to happen again,” said Rep. Quinlan, who represents the district where the proposed landfill site is located.
The City is in a difficult situation – with the only legally available and feasible options for a new landfill are above aquifers. Mayor Blangiardi also stated the next landfill will not be on the Leeward Coast.
Department of Environmental Services Director Rodger Babcock said the City had multiple strategies in mind, and if one of the two bills becomes law, they would have to move to plan B, which was to make amendments to Act 73, that prohibits building landfills over aquifers.
“Then if that is also eliminated, then we have to move to Plan C, which is to try to get an extension and or expand the existing landfill if there is no other place to go on the island,” said Babcock.
However, Rep. Quinlan says it’s very unlikely they will amend Act 73 during this legislative session. He hopes there will be further discussions with federal partners to identify other sites.
Babcock said the City is running out of time to comply with the Land Use Commission’s decree to close Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill no later than March 2028.
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“We will have to have a landfill going forward for the foreseeable future. So we will do whatever has to be done to make that happen,” said Babcock.
The bills will now go to conference where the House and Senate will work out the details to ultimately agree to one bill.