The program would be launched in Mililani and several North Shore communities, then expand across the island in five more steps over seven months, said city environmental services director Frank Doyle.

Trash, recyclables and green waste would be collected on different days in different containers. A gray 96-gallon cart would be used for trash; a blue 64-gallon cart would be used for mixed recyclables; and bags, bundles and a 35-gallon container would be used for green waste.

Officials have estimated that the program would cost about $5 million a year if the city handles collection and if the recyclables are processed by a Sand Island firm. Early proposals suggested that privatized collection would raise the cost to $13 million a year.

But City Council members continue to question whether the plan is workable and whether all its costs are known. Some key issues remain unresolved.

Island Recycling, the company chosen to process recyclables collected by the city, has been cited for violations of health and building codes, and the city won't sign a contract unless they're cleared, Dolye said.

The problems came to light after a serious fire scorched the company's Sand Island recycling yard in April. The company has been working to address the concerns.

The city also has not reached an agreement with the United Public Workers union over how employees would be affected by the program, Doyle said.

The city began a recycling pilot program in Mililani last year, but suspended it last month after the state Labor Relations Board ruled that the city improperly continued the project after an agreement with UPW expired.

Doyle said the city has not ruled out using a private company to do the collection instead of city workers. Company proposals will be accepted until mid-October, he said.

Several companies are lobbying the council for a share of the city's recycling business and say they're not convinced the administration has worked out a good plan.

"I just don't think it's going to happen," said Jim Banigan, manager of Hawai'i Metal Recycling Co.

But city recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones said she's very optimistic.

"There is no plan, especially of this magnitude, that you don't have to work your way through, and we are ready to work through this one," she said. "It's OK if we get a little dirty while we're doing it."

If residents experience problems with recycling, they should let officials know so corrections can be made, she said.

Council Public Works Committee chairman Rod Tam said he believes that Mayor Jeremy Harris is rushing to implement the program because Harris is leaving office at the end of the year.

"This is the first time we've seen a schedule, and we've been asking for it for several months," Tam said. "If you don't do it right, you have repercussions. And who's left to with those repercussions? The council, the next administration and the public."

Harris could not be reached yesterday. But City Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz said he's cautiously optimistic.

"I'm very hopeful and am looking forward to the program starting," he said. "I hope this will contribute to controlling illegal dumping, and we've needed to go in this direction for a long time."