Harris said he would seek to privatize the collection of recyclable material for the entire program if issues with the United Public Workers union are not resolved soon.

Mililani Neighborhood Board chairman Dick Poirier said he was very disappointed recycling would be suspended.

"It's a project that's been very very successful, from the community's point of view," Poirier said. "It's something that should be continued. We're concerned that this break in service could possibly result in people going back to their old ways, and we hope this does not do that."

The labor board ruled Aug. 5 that the city had engaged in a prohibited labor practice by continuing the project after its agreement with the union expired March 31. "The city failed to comply with the law," said UPW state director Dayton Nakanelua.

The union repeatedly had warned the city to stop the nine-month-old project unless a new agreement were reached, according to a complaint UPW filed in June. The project was to end in January, but was extended twice.

The city had asked residents to set aside cans, bottles, paper and plastics rather than throw them in with trash. City crews collected the recyclables from special containers on designated dates.

Harris said he hoped to begin phasing in an islandwide recycling program in October, and Mililani would be among the first neighborhoods to participate.

He said the program could be in full operation by mid-2005, with collection handled either by unionized city employees or a private contractor.

"Our preference is to have UPW continue to do it — for them to recognize the benefit to the community, our environment and their workers," Harris said.

He said he had hoped to continue the Mililani project while negotiations for the islandwide program continued.

Nakanelua said the union recognizes the need to stop filling O'ahu's landfills with material that could be recycled, but there are many legitimate concerns about how recycling would affect workers.

He said the union was open to talks with the city, but "negotiations require a level of trust."

Nakanelua said the city had not yet provided all information the union has requested about how the islandwide program would work.

Officials have estimated the program would cost about $5 million a year if the city handles collection and recyclables are processed by a Sand Island company.

The city considered privatizing collection as well as processing, but found that would raise the cost to $13 million a year.

UPW attorney Herb Takahashi said he doubted Harris was serious about privatizing the program now.

The mayor and his administration "are famous for making threats of privatization, none of which have materialized," he said. "So if you believe that baloney, you must believe in Santa Claus in August."

Harris has long clashed with the City Council over how the islandwide program would be implemented and how much it would cost.

Some council members have questioned whether Harris is rushing to implement the program before leaving office at the end of the year, and doubt all costs have been revealed.

"I really hope the administration is truthful to the council and to the public," said council chairman Donovan Dela Cruz. "We definitely want the program to start as soon as possible."

A serious fire in April scorched the main recycling yard that handles material from the Mililani project and might be used for the islandwide program. The yard had been cited for various violations of building, safety and health laws, and the council had tried to bar the city from awarding the islandwide contract to the company that operates it.