Land acquisition approved for Lahaina debris Permanent Disposal Site, landfill expansion

The County of Maui's proposed acquisition of 79 acres for a Permanent Disposal Site (PDS) and Central Maui Landfill expansion was approved Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, by the Maui County Council, which passed bills amending the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the acquisitions.

The County announced last month that it has entered into conditional agreements with a subsidiary of Nan Inc., Hawaiʻi's largest, locally owned construction company, to purchase approximately 49 acres of previously quarried land and 30 acres of land currently being quarried adjacent to the Central Maui Landfill.

A portion of the land would be used for a Permanent Disposal Site for debris from the 2023 Lahaina wildfire. The land also would be used to expand Central Maui Landfill, the only major municipal solid waste landfill on the island, which faced limited capacity before the fires.

Resolutions authorizing the acquisitions of the parcels for a total of $4 million were adopted by the County Council on Nov. 26.

At its meeting Friday, the County Council passed Bills 174, 175 and 176, amending the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to provide funding for the acquisition of the properties and the design and development of the Permanent Disposal Site.

"Mahalo to County Council members for moving expeditiously to approve this important acquisition," said Mayor Richard Bissen. "Securing land is a significant step in protecting our environment and ensuring sustainable growth for generations."

The County Department of Environmental Management is preparing to initiate the design and construction of the Permanent Disposal Site.

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