Opposition kills plan to add construction landfill at Maili Quarry
The company that has sought for several years to put a construction and demolition landfill in spent portions of Maili Quarry will not pursue the project further, it announced yesterday.
"I've been working on it a long time, but there's just too much opposition in the community," said Larry Wilderman, president of Sphere LLC, which runs the Maili quarry as Pacific Aggregate.
Wilderman said he would continue to operate the quarry and would pursue renewing a state Department of Health permit that allows him to recycle used concrete there. His current permit for concrete recycling will expire at the end of April, he said.
On March 2, Waianae Coast residents who oppose Pacific Aggregate's landfill plans rejoiced after the state Land Use Commission decided not to hear a permit application for the proposed facility.
At the time, Wilderman said he would probably restart his application process at the county level or file an appeal.
"The intent of our project to develop a construction and demolition debris landfill and recycling facility on the Waianae Coast was not to jeopardize human health or disrupt the community in any way," Wilderman said in a statement announcing his decision.
"On the contrary, it would've created job opportunities," he continued.
"The proposed location is an ideal and practical location for a C&D (construction and demolition) landfill and recycling facility," Wilderman said. "However, it has been clearly demonstrated that the Waianae community opposes any landfill on the Waianae Coast."
PVT construction and demolition landfill, also in Maili, is Oahu's only facility for disposal of construction and demolition wastes.
Albert Silva, vice chairman of the Waianae Neighborhood Board, said yesterday he attributes the company's decision to "people speaking out against this landfill in the Waianae Coast."
Silva said that although he voted with the majority of the board in opposing any more landfills on the Waianae Coast, he was not personally strongly opposed to a construction and demolition landfill at Maili. The question now, he said, is what will be done with the empty quarry pit.
"I'm pleased because it's going to reduce the number of landfill threats to the Waianae Coast," said Cynthia Rezentes, chairwoman of the Waianae Neighborhood Board, after hearing of Wilderman's decision.