Civil Beat‘s land reporter, Sophie Cocke, was at the Honolulu Planning Commission yesterday and gets us up to speed on the impending battle between the city and Ko Olina over extending the life of Waimanalo Gulch Landfill.

From her story:

Resort owners have pushed for years to close down the landfill because they are concerned that it’s hurting business and is a public health hazard. The state Land Use Commission agreed and ordered the landfill to be closed in July.

Debate over the landfill has dragged on for at least a decade, with the city repeatedly requesting extensions to keep it open. The city says there is nowhere else to put the trash. The controversy peaked last year when pounding rains sent trash and medical waste from the landfill flowing into the ocean and onto nearby leeward beaches.

(Photo courtesy Environmental Protection Agency)