Council establishes task force to ‘end landfills,’ presses agency on H-POWER and ash recycling

The Honolulu City Council on the floor voted to create a task force intended to develop a technical, policy and funding roadmap to reduce reliance on Oʻahu landfills.

Council member Nishimoto introduced Resolution 26-7, which backers described as a coordinated effort to bring “knowledgeable experts, industry professionals, environmental voices, and community stakeholders” together to plan a path away from landfill dependency. Will Giese, a representative of Solar Ray, told the council his company is building a Kapolei solar module recycling facility and urged support, noting existing local capacity to handle clean-energy waste.

“We are in strong support of this resolution,” Giese said during remote testimony. “We hope to service what we estimate to be currently around between 5 and 7 million modules deployed across Hawaii.”

Vice chair Tupelo framed the resolution as a corrective step after years of delay. “This task force is intended to bring together knowledgeable experts … to create a realistic and technical path towards ending landfill dependency on Oʻahu,” Tupelo said, adding the measure is “not symbolic.”

Council members pressed the administration for specifics about alternatives and timelines. A department representative from the Department of Environmental Services said staff supports the effort but emphasized a practical need to pursue a new landfill in parallel with transition planning. “We are not in a position today to not have a landfill,” the director said, noting technical limits to current alternatives and the need for concurrent planning.

Members also debated H-POWER operations and ash recycling during related items. Council member Kia Aina identified a line in this year’s budget of about $26,500,000 that would support H-POWER expansion or improvements, and described the planned work as a combination of improved source separation, waste preprocessing and infrastructure upgrades to reduce the volume sent to Waimanalo Gulch landfill.

“We need this because it will allow for the appropriation of funds,” Kia Aina said, adding that improved source separation and preprocessing would reduce landfill inputs and generate additional electricity.

Department officials outlined technical constraints: ash reuse and broader ash-recycling programs require additional testing and regulatory permitting, including work on PFAS concerns. The administration said obtaining necessary permits and completing design and implementation could take multiple years.

Council members repeatedly emphasized the need for an explicit technical report and community engagement. Several members framed the resolution’s timeline as an opportunity to produce written plans that clarify what statutory changes, funding, or sites would be required to achieve any landfill-reduction goals.

The council adopted Resolution 26-7 and associated committee report after discussion. The motion passed with no recorded objections during the floor vote and the council set follow-up expectations for reports and stakeholder engagement.

What’s next: The resolution tasks staff and the appointed task force to deliver technical analyses and policy recommendations; council members said they expect those materials to guide future budget requests and any statutory changes.