What to do about the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill?

It’s a stinky political football that’s been kicked around West Oahu for years. The city’s efforts to expand the landfill and keep it open have been opposed by local interests, including by congressional candidate Colleen Hanabusa, who wants it shut down. It’s time for some other community to bear the burden, they say.

Now the Honolulu Planning Commission says it will issue a recommendation on whether the city should get an extension of a special permit that has kept Waimanalo Gulch operating.

The decision is scheduled for Oct. 26, during the final stretch before the Nov. 8 general election.

With the mayor’s race and three City Council seats in contention, the commission’s recommendation should make for interesting campaign fodder.