CITY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT SETTLE WITH STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

The City & County of Honolulu and Waste Management announced today that they have settled an administrative enforcement action brought by the State of Hawaii’s Department of Health in January 2006 for alleged operational violations at the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill dating back to 2005 and earlier. Waste Management has agreed to spend over $1.5 million to fully and finally resolve this matter.

"On behalf of the City & County of Honolulu I would like to recognize Waste Management for meeting its obligation by assuming all financial responsibility from day one. It is critical that everyone is aware that no taxpayer monies will be used to pay for this settlement," said Mayor Mufi Hannemann. "I appreciate the job their team has done to address the Department of Health compliance issues and, with our encouragement, proactively reach out to communities near the site."

In addition to a monetary payment of $520,000, the settlement allows for more than $1 million of funding for Supplemental Environmental Projects. The projects will include a community drop-off center at the landfill for residents to deposit their solid waste and recyclables, and other projects to be selected by the Department of Health, or other State agencies designated by the Department of Health in consultation with the communities located near the landfill.