Dive Brief:
- Dole Food Company said it was “surprised” after Honolulu city and county leaders recently circled the company’s land in O’ahu as a potential site for a new landfill that could affect farmers across the state.
- While Dole is looking forward to discussions with city officials to learn more about the proposal, the company said talks should take place after its Wahiawā Irrigation System — which provides clean water to the region’s farmers — is transferred to the state of Hawai’i.
- The proposed landfill site — chosen by the city a few weeks ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline — is located above an aquifer on agricultural lands in Wahiawā, which has sparked concerns of water contamination from the public.
Dive Insight:
Dole has been working to donate aging water infrastructure related to its former pineapple plantations to the state of Hawai’i after racking up years of violations and fines for potential safety risks to the public. Agricultural advocates had hoped the donation would be a key step toward rebuilding local farming operations in the state.
However, a plan to turn nearby land into a landfill could complicate that goal. Honolulu officials recently announced plans to construct a landfill on 150 acres of land owned by Dole Food Company. Dole said it needed more time to discuss the decision with its partners and community stakeholders before moving forward with the project.
Currently, Dole’s main focus is finalizing the transfer of its irrigation system to the state of Hawai’i. Dan Nellis, general manager, Dole Food Company Hawaii, said in a statement that the transfer is “critical to ensuring the continued viability of agriculture on O’ahu.”
The irrigation system is used by more than 50 farmers and serves more than 500 jobs in the region, Nellis said. It also provides critical flood protection and under Hawai’i’s ownership can take advantage of federal funding opportunities to ensure water and agricultural security.
“We appreciate the importance of the landfill discussion, but ensuring the longevity of agriculture on O‘ahu remains our focus at this time,” Nellis said.
The plan for a new landfill is a critical step toward closing the current Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, which has been in operation for 35 years. Members of the state’s land use commission ruled in 2019 to close the landfill by 2028 over environmental justice issues.
Honolulu officials said if the Wahiawā site is rejected, they will seek legislative changes to allow the siting of landfills closer to residences, schools or hospitals. If those changes are declined, officials said they will have to extend the gulch’s landfill operations, which is something the administration opposes.
“The City understands and acknowledges the public’s concerns and the absolute necessity to safeguard our island’s underground water supply aquifers against contamination,” Roger Babcock, director of Honolulu’s department of environmental services, said in a statement.
“We will ensure aquifer protection by exceeding federal and state design standards for safe operations and regulations for monitoring solid waste landfills, building instead to a higher level of protection that would typically only be required for the creation of a hazardous waste facility,” he added.
The city of Honolulu plans to assess the environmental impact of the project and conduct public outreach and engagement throughout the design and permitting process. It is also in talks with the property owner of the proposed site.