Kekaha Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Cell 3 Vertical Expansion
The County of Kaua‘i, Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division (County) proposes to develop Cell 3 to gain additional airspace capacity at the Kekaha Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (Kekaha Landfill) located in Kekaha, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i (Proposed Action/Project).
Pursuant to the requirements of Hawai’i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 and Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) §11-200.1, the County is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action.
A key component of the County’s solid waste management system is source reduction and recycling . The County currently diverts over 40 percent of the waste generated on island. However, there is a continued need for municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal on Kauai. The possibility of shipping MSW off-island to other counties or to the continental U.S. is not practicable due to legal and financial considerations.
The Kekaha Landfill is the island’s only permitted landfill and is projected to reach capacity in 2030 based on current disposal rates. The closure of the Kekaha Landfill upon the exhaustion of landfill space without an alternative means of on-island disposal of MSW is not practicable and could lead to public safety and environmental impacts from unauthorized dumping.
The County is currently working on the planning and permitting for a new landfill at Ma‘alo ; however, permitting, design, and construction of a new landfill site is anticipated to require approximately 10 years (possibly longer). Given this timeline will exceed the timeline of anticipated remaining capacity at the current Kekaha Landfill capacity, there is a need to provide an interim solution for safe MSW disposal capacity in Kauaʻi County before the new landfill is brought on-line.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to prolong the life of the Kekaha Landfill prior to exhausting airspace at the island’s only permitted landfill. It will provide safe disposal capacity of MSW in Kauaʻi County while a new landfill can be sited, permitted, designed, and constructed elsewhere in the county.
The Kekaha Landfill presently serves as Kaua‘i’s sole landfill facility for the disposal of MSW. Kekaha Landfill is approximately 1.3 miles northwest of the town of Kekaha in the southwest part of Kaua‘i and is within the Waimea Ahupua‘a and Kona Moku (district).
Kekaha Landfill was established in 1953 and has been in continuous operation through sequential operational phases and expansion cells. The facility’s currently permitted limit-of-waste footprint (i.e., landfill area) is 74 acres and is comprised of two refuse fill areas:
- Phase I : Phase I accepted waste from 1953 to October 1993 and has a peak elevation of 50 feet (ft) above mean sea level (amsl). Phase I predates the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D (40 Code of Federal Regulations Section 258). Therefore, there is no liner system beneath the Phase I refuse as there was no requirement for one at the time it was constructed and began operation.
- Phase II : Phase II is an active, lined area of the landfill that began accepting waste on October 9, 1993. Since commencing operations, Phase II was expanded horizontally into Cells 1 and 2 and vertically to its current permitted maximum elevation of 171.5 ft amsl. Phase II is projected to reach capacity in 2030.
In recognition that Kekaha Landfill is anticipated to reach capacity by 2030, and that it will take approximately 10 years to permit, design, and construct a new landfill, the County is proposing the Cell 3 expansion to meet the near-term waste disposal requirements for the Island of Kauaʻi. Cell 3 would provide additional airspace through a vertical expansion over the footprint of the Phase I and Phase II areas. No lateral expansion outside the existing 74-acre waste disposal limits would occur. An overliner system would be constructed above the pre-Subtitle D, Phase I disposal area to collect and recover leachate from future waste placed in the Cell 3 landfill area. The expanded landfill disposal areas above Phase I and Phase II would be connected to the existing leachate, landfill gas, and stormwater management systems.
The Proposed Action would consist of the following:
- Phase I Waste Relocation - To achieve the necessary grades for the installation of the Phase I overliner system, approximately 253,000 cubic yards of waste would need to be relocated within the Phase I area. The majority of the waste would be reburied within the landfill; however, some waste (e.g., hazardous waste, recyclable metals) may be excavated and transported for off-site disposal.
- Installation of Phase I Overliner and Leachate Collection and Removal System – Installation of an impermeable overliner and leachate collection and removal system within the Phase I area to prevent leachate from Cell 3 from impacting groundwater. The Phase I overliner is a composite liner system predominantly used in modern landfills and is ideal for leachate containment.
- Phased Cell 3 Vertical Expansion – Extend the maximum height of the landfill to 85 ft amsl within Phase I and 195 ft amsl within Phase II. Cell 3 would cover approximately 65 acres over the existing landfill area.
- Tsunami Mitigation Armoring – In anticipation of upcoming changes to Hawaii’s Solid Waste Rules (HAR 11-58.1), the Project will include installation of rip-rap or other armoring material around the perimeter of the landfill waste footprint to dissipate wave energy in the event of a tsunami.
Based on current waste disposal rates, the Cell 3 expansion is anticipated to provide approximately 12 additional years of capacity.
If a new MSW landfill facility becomes operational during the Cell 3 operating period, the County would coordinate with HDOH to close Cell 3 and the Kekaha Landfill as soon as practicable, while ensuring continued compliance with all operational, environmental, and public service requirements.
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| ITEM |
Anticipated Date of Completion |
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HRS Chapter 343 Environmental Impact Statement
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Q3 2027
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Land Use Approvals
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Q1 2028
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Final Operations Plan and Design
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Q1 2028
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Hawaiʻi Department of Health Solid Waste Management Permit
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Q1 2029
|
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Phase I Waste Reconsolidation and Installation of Overliner
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Q2 2030
|
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Begin Waste Placement in Cell 3 Vertical Expansion Volume
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Q1 2030
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Total Time Duration
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~ 4 years
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*This schedule is subject to change
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Pursuant to the requirements of Hawai’i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 and Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) §11-200.1, the County is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the Cell 3 Vertical Expansion.
| MILESTONE |
TIMELINE |
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Community and Agency Consultation
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Ongoing
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Public Informational Meeting @ Kekaha Neighborhood Center
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May 27, 2026
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Publish EIS Preparation Notice (EISPN) in The Environmental Notice
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June 8, 2026
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30-Day EISPN Public Comment Period
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June 8 - July 9, 2026
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Public Scoping Meeting
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June 2026
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Prepare and Publish Draft EIS
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Q2 2026 – Q1 2027
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45-Day Draft EIS Comment Period
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Q1 2027
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Public Informational Meeting
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Q1 2027
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Prepare and Publish Final EIS
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Q1 2027 – Q3 2027
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*This schedule is subject to change
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Interested parties are invited to provide input to the EIS process, including concerns related to particular environmental resources and relevant information that should be considered in the evaluation.
Please provide comments to Kayla Yost at Tetra Tech (737 Bishop Street, Suite 2000, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813) or kayla.yost@tetratech.com.
If you would like to receive an electronic copy of the EISPN upon publication (anticipated June 8, 2026), or want to be consulted as part of the project’s Cultural Impact Assessment, please provide your name and email to Kayla Yost at kayla.yost@tetratech.com.
What is the Cell 3 project?
Cell 3 is a proposed vertical expansion inside the existing 74 acre Kekaha Landfill footprint. The project adds new disposal capacity so the island can continue safe landfill operations until a new landfill is sited, permitted, designed, and built. Developing a new landfill is expected to take about 10 years.
Why does Kaua‘i need Cell 3?
Even with the upcoming Phase II vertical expansion to 171.5 feet, the Kekaha Landfill is expected to reach capacity around 2030. Without Cell 3, the island could run out of permitted landfill space before a replacement landfill is ready.
Does the project expand the landfill onto new land?
No. Cell 3 stays within the current 74 acre permitted limit of waste. There is no outward or lateral expansion.
How much new capacity will Cell 3 provide?
Cell 3 is estimated to add about 1.5 million cubic yards of new disposal airspace. Based on current disposal rates, this would extend the landfill’s life by approximately 12 years.
What work will actually happen at the landfill for Cell 3?
Cell 3 involves several construction steps that prepare the landfill for new, safe disposal space. These steps include:
• Moving some of the old Phase I waste so crews can reshape the ground and install a modern liner. Most of the waste will be placed back into the landfill.
• Installing a new protective liner system over the old Phase I landfill. This liner will prevent liquids from seeping into the ground and will connect to the existing landfill systems used today.
• Raising the height of the landfill in areas that already accept waste. The maximum height would be 85 feet in the Phase I area and up to 195 feet in the Phase II area.
Why does the older Phase I waste need to be moved?
Phase I was built in 1953, long before modern environmental rules existed. It does not have an engineered liner beneath the waste. By reshaping the area and adding a new overliner and leachate collection removal system, the County can better protect groundwater and bring this part of the landfill up to current environmental standards.
Is it safe to build on top of the old landfill areas?
Yes. Engineering evaluations show that the existing landfill infrastructure, including the liner beneath Phase II and the leachate, gas, and stormwater systems, can safely support the additional load created by Cell 3.
What environmental and cultural reviews will be completed?
The project will complete full environmental review, including groundwater and hydrology studies, biological surveys, cultural impact assessments, archaeological review, and tsunami hazard analysis. These studies will guide protective design features and permit conditions.
What happens once a new landfill is built?
If a new landfill becomes operational during the life of Cell 3, the County will coordinate with the Hawai‘i Department of Health on a closure plan for Cell 3 and the Kekaha Landfill. This would allow the community to transition away from Kekaha once a new facility is available.