The City Council yesterday put pressure on Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration by approving a bill that would require the city to close the Waimanalo Gulch landfill by 2008 even though no new landfill or waste alternative has been identified.

Neighboring communities, public officials and even the state have seemed resigned to the continued operation of the Wai'anae Coast landfill.

But spurred by $2.8 million in fines for violations at the landfill recently and frustrated over years of inability to find a waste solution, the council voted 7-2 to take a stand and push the administration to move faster on the island's trash issues.

In doing so, the council turned aside objections that the deadline was "unrealistic" and warnings from the city's environmental services director that it could result in higher property taxes to pay for another solution.

They voted for the move despite warnings from Eric Takamura, the city's director of the Department of Environmental Services, that the city can't guarantee the closing will happen. "It's unrealistic," he said.

"It's going to take a minimum of five years" to create a new landfill and possibly closer to six or seven to get one built, Takamura said.

Councilman Gary Okino, a city planner by profession, said officials have been studying the issue for 25 years and need to make progress. He and other council members acknowledged that no one wants a landfill in his or her backyard and that finding a solution will be difficult.

But, he said, "You need to pick a new landfill site. We're looking to close that thing in 2008."

Takamura said the administration of former Mayor Jeremy Harris spent five to 10 years on the problem without reaching a solution. He assured the council that Hannemann is working on a long-term plan for refuse but said some flexibility is needed.

"We can create a plan by 2008 but understand there's going to be hoops and hurdles," Takamura said. "It's hard to get concrete deadlines on something this delicate."

Okino fired back: "I think you're going to have to try."

The bill goes next to the mayor for his consideration, but Takamura said he would urge Hannemann to veto the measure. If the number of council members in support of the measure remains the same, the council has the votes to override the mayor's veto and keep the deadline in place.

But Hannemann, a veteran vote counter, has proved he can persuade city lawmakers to change their minds on key issues.

Takamura said the city has looked extensively at shipping O'ahu's waste to another state as an alternative to a landfill on O'ahu but noted that the minimum price tag would be $40 million annually. He said no company that expressed interest has applied for the necessary environmental permits.

He acknowledged that some cities and counties welcome the opportunity to be paid to take someone else's refuse. On the East Coast, for example, he said, "they relish the thought of accepting New York City's waste," he said.

But Takamura also said that some communities oppose the idea. "It's like we value our land but we don't value theirs," he said.

Hannemann could not be reached to comment on the vote.

Takamura also said the only alternative to closing the landfill on time would likely be raising property taxes to finance another solution.

But Councilwoman Barbara Marshall, one of the two who voted against the measure, said "piling up garbage on the street is the alternative."

Marshall added, "I don't think that it's proper for the council to pass the bill ... knowing that it's impossible to do what this bill asks or mandates."

Councilman Todd Apo, who represents the Leeward Coast, said it's time to find a solution. "We've got more than two years to come up with an answer," he said.

Apo said litter scattering, overfilling of the landfill and other violations cited by the state Health Department point to major issues that make it "completely unacceptable" to extend the landfill's life.

The state recently fined the city and private operator Waste Management Inc. $2.8 million and cited it for 18 types of environmental violations at the landfill.

Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz said he thinks frustration has been building at the council and in the community as years have gone by without any alternatives to the landfill.

And the $2.8 million in violations were a "red flag," he said.

"That helps light the fire," he said. "We can't keep going in this direction."

Wai'anae Neighborhood Board member Cynthia Rezentes urged the council to place a "hard deadline" on the administration to move forward.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.