State health officials said a test indicated the odor posed no health hazard. County officials who supported the reopening say they believe the problem has been solved and the private landfill will be an asset, diverting construction and demolition trash away from the county landfill. Public Works Director Charles Jencks said the diversion should extend the life of the county landfill at Puunene by an estimated 14 percent. Contractors say the Maalaea landfill reduces the travel time for truckers hauling construction waste from Lahaina and Wailuku. Yellow Macaw Construction Inc. Under the new permit, the landfill cannot receive any substantial green waste.
Officials suspect the cause of the fire was a burning tree brought into the landfill.
The new permit requires the landfill to have a person to examine the contents of trucks. Trash also must be emptied into cells with walls of dirt to prevent the spread of any fire. Maui Demolition declined to comment. Island Sands resident Connie Welch said that when the fire occurred at the landfill, the odor reminded her of smoldering sour garbage.