Landfill reopens
at Maalaea, Maui
County officials say they think
By Gary T. Kubota
they know why the private landfill
burned for several weeks last year
and have solved the problem
Star-BulletinMAALAEA, Maui -- Maui County officials are hoping the second time will be the charm for a private construction-waste landfill in Maalaea that emitted smoke and other odors from a fire for several weeks last year.
More than a month after its re-opening, coastal residents living about a mile downwind say they haven't noticed any smell from the landfill.
"Lately, I haven't smelled anything," said Harry Chance, resident manager of Maalaea Banyans Condominium. "I didn't even know they were back on line."
The landfill was reopened after the county Planning Commission on April 13 approved a special use permit to Maui Demolition & Construction Landfill Inc., despite opposition from a group of Maalaea residents.
The county had ordered the company to stop operations after a fire continued to smolder at the landfill for several weeks starting in March 1998. The fire was eventually put out.
State health officials said a test indicated the odor posed no health hazard.
County officials who supported the reopening say they believe the problem has been solved and the private landfill will be an asset, diverting construction and demolition trash away from the county landfill.
Public Works Director Charles Jencks said the diversion should extend the life of the county landfill at Puunene by an estimated 14 percent.
Contractors say the Maalaea landfill reduces the travel time for truckers hauling construction waste from Lahaina and Wailuku.
"They're closer, so that saves on turnaround time," said Al Boteilho, owner of Yellow Macaw Construction Inc.
Under the new permit, the landfill cannot receive any substantial green waste.
Officials suspect the cause of the fire was a burning tree brought into the landfill.
The new permit requires the landfill to have a person to examine the contents of trucks. Trash also must be emptied into cells with walls of dirt to prevent the spread of any fire.
Maui Demolition declined to comment.
Island Sands resident Connie Welch said that when the fire occurred at the landfill, the odor reminded her of smoldering sour garbage.
"I hope they figured out what the problem was and it doesn't appear again," Welch said.
