Waste Management of Hawaii, City of Honolulu to Pay in EPA Settlement

Nearly 10 years ago, storms in Hawaii overwhelmed temporary pipes at the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill and sent water contaminated with trash into the ocean. Now, the city of Honolulu and Waste Management of Hawaii will have to pay $425,000 as part of a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to a Hawaii News Now report, EPA said following the storms, medical waste washed up onto nearby beaches for weeks. As part of the agreement, the landfill must upgrade its stormwater drainage pipeline and conduct a number of facility upgrades.

In addition, the money from the settlement will be used to monitor and restore coral reefs off Leeward Oahu, noted the report.

Hawaii News Now has more details:

The city and Waste Management of Hawaii will pay $425,000 as a part of a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA said that storms in December 2010 and January 2011 overwhelmed temporary pipes at the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill.

Flooding at the site sent water contaminated with trash into the ocean.

Read the full article here.