Big Island Now poll No. 27: What’s the best way to extend the life of the Big Island’s only remaining landfill?

The West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill, the only working landfill on the Big Island since the Hilo Landfill closed permanently 3 years ago, has about 20 to 25 years before it reaches capacity.

Hawai‘i County Environmental Management Commission Chairperson Georjean Adams recently said trying to find a new landfill site on the island is near impossible.

So what will the County do?

Commissioners think they’ve come up with a good idea: an ordinance that would limit the amount of recyclable materials going into the island’s one remaining landfill. The proposed new law, still in it’s early stages of development, would help divert more green waste, metals, plastics, paper, paperboard and glass away from the landfill off Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway in Waikōloa.

The goal is to slow down the timeline for the landfill reaching capacity, lengthening its lifetime.

Recycle Hawai’i Board of Directors President Kristine Kubat said the nonprofit agrees with the intent of the proposed measure; however, she would prefer to first see an outright ban on single-use plastic. She added that there’s a lot more to discuss.

Conversations are happening now, so we wanted to pick your brain about what can be done to keep the west side landfill around as long as possible while the County works toward reaching goals related to climate resiliency, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and zero waste.

Comment here or on social media about why you voted the way you did. Voting ends at midnight Sept. 15. Results will be posted Sept. 17.

You can find the results from last week’s poll that asked “What do you bring to a Labor Day cookout?” by clicking here.