A fire was reported Sunday, June 2 in the compost at the Maui Dump in Pu’unene. Last report indicated the fire was contained.
In 2012 the EPA came to a $5.1 million settlement with the Maui County to address alleged air pollution violations at the Central Maui Landfill in Pu’unene. The EPA is requiring Maui County to implement enhanced monitoring for the landfill’s air toxins, organic compounds and methane gas, which are produced by the decomposition of trash.
According to an EPA methane can be a serious underground fire hazard.
[photo: County of Maui]