As the current Kekaha Landfill has a short remaining life span and the new landfill is still in the planning stages, we believe the largest environmental issue is to divert as much as possible from the current and upcoming expanded Kekaha landfill.
With 43% diversion rate Kauai has done much diversion with little legislative help. However, in order to survive the period between when one landfill is expected to be full and the other not yet ready, we need to do as much diversion as possible starting now, thus cutting down as much as possible on trash sent to the landfill.
Looking at the 2016 landfill waste characterization study, there are many more divertable materials in the landfill. It is time for gradual bans on construction and demolition, organics and food waste and recyclables in the landfill, together with grants or other enablers to have regional composting around the island, a material recovery facility (MRF) and curbside recycling pick up (while increasing the fee for trash pickup), and an organized plan for reuse of construction and deconstruction debris.
Visitors and residents need to be made aware of our precarious position and how they can help. If we all work together on the above suggestions we can not only make it safely through to the next landfill, but also make Kauai a more sustainable and healthy island.