Mayor Won't Cancel Sewage Treatment Contract

Courtesy Ron Slauson

Synagro is staying, and a budget battle is brewing — again.

Despite repeated threats from Honolulu City Council members and even an offer from another company to build new sewage treatment technology at no immediate cost to taxpayers, Mayor Peter Carlisle will not terminate the city's contract with the controversial fertilizer pellet producer.

Environmental Services Director Tim Steinberger made the administration's decision plain Tuesday, the last day before a deadline to give Synagro the six months notice required for contract termination. The $2 million opt-out comes only once every five years, and now it's passed.

"Given that we are satisfied with their performance, we see no valid reason to cancel this contract," Steinberger said in a meeting of the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee.

Carlisle had previously said he was weighing his options, and a consultant urged the city to stay the course.

(Read the Inside Honolulu blog for more frequent updates about the sewer system and city government, politics and issues.)

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