Council hears competing views as city weighs future landfill needs and a proposed Makapuu acquisition

Director Roger Babcock of the Department of Environmental Services told the committee the city must plan now for landfill capacity: the current Waimanalo Gulch permit requires closure in March 2028 and the department projects available disposal space could be exhausted near 2031 unless the city advances acquisition and planning. Babcock said the city previously identified sites and that moving planning forward quickly is necessary to avoid an operational gap between closure and opening a new facility.

At the same time, public testifiers urged the council to delete a proposed $30 million appropriation to acquire Makapuu East Shores A Hills for landfill expansion. A James Campbell Company representative (Matt Carries) and tourism and business stakeholders (Sweety Nelson of Ko Olina) said the property is zoned for housing and strategic economic development and warned that landfill expansion would harm long-term investment in West Oahu.

Councilmembers discussed the legislative and technical steps involved, including that some previously considered sites are constrained by state law (Act 73/255 references were discussed), that alternate sites (for example, Wahiawa) have been tagged in past planning, and that any change in site choice could require state actions or further environmental review. Director Babcock emphasized that time is short to complete the necessary planning, permitting and procurement for any alternative landfill site and urged the committee to keep acquisition and planning on the schedule.

What happens next: The committee accepted CD1/CD2 conforming amendments to the capital budget and will consider the administration’s timeline for landfill siting and any legislative requests; stakeholders asked the council to remove the acquisition appropriation and pursue alternative waste-reduction and recycling strategies to extend landfill life.