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Members of the United Nations have finished another round of negotiations on a treaty to reduce global plastic pollution. Over 2,500 people participated in the six-day session in April in Ottawa, Canada, including Recycle Hawaiʻi's Executive Director Kristine Kubat.

The first environmental monitoring report from the Olowalu temporary debris storage site shows no environmental impacts, according to Maui County.

The owner of the property selected for Lahaina's fire debris disposal site has filed a lawsuit against Maui County and its eminent domain actions to acquire the 20 acres. As HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports, the property owner tried to donate 5 acres, but the county said it needs all 20 acres.

A private landowner has offered to donate 5 acres of its 20-acre parcel to Maui County for fire debris disposal. However, the county said it will require more land to safely handle ash disposal and will move forward with eminent domain proceedings. The two parties recently could not come to an agreement on the 20-acre parcel. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.

The county council unsuccessfully attempted to reach an agreement with the current landowner, Komar Maui Properties, which bought the parcel in 2015. Councilmembers at a recent committee meeting heard passionate testimony from Lahaina residents in favor of using eminent domain. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports.

Officials plan to send debris and ash from the August wildfire that destroyed Lahaina town to Maui's central landfill. The Central Maui Landfill has the advantage of being far from populated areas and officials don’t believe material deposited there will contaminate drinking water supplies.

An issue with delayed pickup for refuse and recycling in East Oʻahu last week could soon impact the entire island due to a shortage of available collection trucks. Over the past five fiscal years, the Department of Environmental Services has ordered a total of 73 new trucks but only received 17. No new trucks have been delivered since November 2020. HPR's Pixie Clay has more.

The County of Maui will resume its weekly Lahaina recovery update meetings Wednesday after pausing for two weeks. Officials will share progress on choosing a permanent debris disposal site following a community survey.

The Corps began earlier this month removing more than 400,000 tons from Lahaina and transporting it to the temporary debris storage site in Olowalu. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen has promised Olowalu will not be a permanent site.

City and County of Honolulu officials didn't explain why there was a lack of collection vehicles, but assures the pick-ups will be made over the next couple of days.