Opponents of the Waimanalo Gulch garbage dump gained some leverage yesterday when the Honolulu Planning Commission agreed to let them intervene before the panel and challenge the city's plan to operate the site for at least two more years.

But the decision means the future of the controversial Leeward Coast facility will remain uncertain longer while a key operating permit is due to expire in less than six months.

The commission's next step will be to schedule a contested case hearing to consider arguments from the intervenors: state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and the Ko Olina resort's community association.

"Hopefully, this sends a message to the City Council and the mayor that this is not a simple matter and they should seriously consider what the alternative will be," Hanabusa said. "This is a community that has had enough."

It remains unclear what would happen to the island's trash if its main dump were shut down. The dispute could become a nasty political fight and public health crisis if garbage is left uncollected. But it could also force the city to speed up long-stalled plans to ship some trash to a Mainland dump and pursue other options.

If the Planning Commission grants the extension, it would still require approval by the state Land Use Commission.

MAYOR'S WARNINGS

Mayor Mufi Hannemann warned that closing Waimanalo Gulch would likely force the city to seek space in a private construction debris landfill in Nanakuli, closer to homes and schools. Other alternatives that could reduce the volume of trash are not yet ready, he said.

"We're looking at expanding recycling, shipping and building a new garbage-to-energy facility, but those things take time to implement," he said. "In the short-term, if they shut us down, where do we go?"

Yesterday's decision came after about a dozen dump opponents — mostly Ko Olina residents and officials — urged the commission to make sure the site closes after its permit expires in May.

"We are trying to attract visitors to Ko Olina," said Arlene Kelly, a resident and property manager at the resort's Coconut Plantation development. "Being that Hawai'i's main industry is tourism, I would think we'd like to make it a pleasant experience, not a stinky one."

But James Manaku Sr., who lives closer to the Nanakuli landfill, said he supported the extension for Waimanalo Gulch.

"My concern is, what happens if we don't have anywhere to dump 'opala?" he said. "The alternative is in our community, and we don't want that."

NO ALTERNATIVE PLAN

City environmental services director Eric Takamura said he had no alternative plan ready in case Waimanalo Gulch is immediately closed. That's because the City Council decided in 2004 to expand the dump rather than set up a new one elsewhere, he said.

Aside from the two-year extension, the city is also preparing to seek permission to expand the size of the dump so it can remain open for 15 more years.

Yesterday's decision was not a surprise, but it increases the pressure as the permit's expiration grows near, Takamura said.

"We're concerned with timeliness, getting everything approved," he said.

Hanabusa said the city had taken far too long to seek permission for the dump extension or otherwise address its garbage woes. "They should seriously consider doing something now," she said.

City Councilman Todd Apo said he looked forward to seeing a long-delayed master plan for handling the island's waste.

"Hopefully, that will help fill in some of the information gaps," he said. "Clearly, we're at the short end of a time fuse."

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.