Building boom is filling up Oahu’s only landfill for construction debris

NANAKULI (HawaiiNewsNow) - Oahu’s only landfill for construction and demolition debris is filling up faster than expected due to the construction boom.

PVT Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility in Nanakuli already reuses or recycles about 80-percent of the debris it receives, according to company officials. The remainder goes into the landfill, which officials estimate has a remaining lifespan of up to 10 years.

“Construction has kind of been at an all-time high, and then a lot of the military are redoing the construction for their facilities,” explained Steve Joseph, vice president of operations at PVT Land Company. “Then with the rail, there’s a lot of stuff coming in.”

PVT Land Company has already started closure activities for part of the landfill.

The company is proposing to relocate its landfill and recycling operation to a parcel owned by a PVT-affiliate on the other side of Lualualei Naval Road.

“It takes a long time to close and a long time to open a new landfill and that’s exactly what we’re looking for, a very smooth transition from this side over to the other side,” said Joseph.

The Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board recently gave conditional approval for the concept, but members want the company to go back to the community with details once the Environmental Impact Statement is released.

In 2008, people living near the landfill took their concerns about dust and health problems to state lawmakers.

"We want to make sure that that the past history that we have in our head, like the dust, is going to be addressed," said board chair Cynthia Rezentes.

PVT made changes and installed mitigation measures to address residents' past concerns, according to Joseph.

PVT officials said the new site will be farther away from housing in the community. The company plans to maintain a 750-foot buffer zone between the nearest homes and the active disposal area.

There will be an open house at PVT’s facility on February 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the proposed move.

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