End Landfills Taskforce

The End Landfills Task Force was established to evaluate the feasibility, costs, risks, and implementation pathways for eliminating landfill dependency in the City and County of Honolulu.

Executive Summary: Honolulu City Council Resolution 26-7 (CD1) established the End Landfills Task Force to address the city's escalating landfill capacity crisis. The Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, O'ahu's only landfill permitted to accept municipal solid waste, is scheduled to close by March 2, 2028, and despite existing waste-to-energy operations at H-POWER and ongoing recycling initiatives, a significant portion of municipal solid waste still requires landfill disposal. Because developing new landfill capacity involves substantial regulatory, environmental, and community obstacles, and because alternative waste management strategies demand rigorous assessment of cost, feasibility, and environmental impact, the Council concluded that a multidisciplinary body was necessary to develop a responsible transition plan toward eliminating landfill dependency. This task force aims to safeguard public health, protect the environment, ensure fiscal responsibility, and preserve labor interests, all while coordinating City efforts with state and federal partners.