Honolulu's experimental residential recycling programs have yet to be launched in the first two neighborhoods, but some City Council members want to be certain the effort is soon expanded islandwide.

The programs are slated to begin on a trial basis in Mililani and Hawai'i Kai the week of Oct. 29.

Councilmen Charles Djou and Todd Apo say the entire island should have curbside residential recycling no later than February 2009.

They're calling for that deadline to be inserted into a new ordinance that must be approved if the programs are to operate as planned.

But Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration isn't sure that's a good idea.

"The goal at this point is to have curbside recycling go islandwide, but we'll be better able to make a determination toward that end as we see how the pilot programs in Mililani and Hawai'i Kai pan out," said city spokesman Bill Brennan.

Finding a way to pay for such a program could be one concern, said Hannemann aide Jeff Coelho.

The city has yet to seal a contract with a company that would process recyclable bottles, cans and paper that are collected, so startup costs remain unclear.

Among other things, the pending ordinance would allow the city to charge quarterly fees of $30 to households that want to continue having garbage collected twice per week after recycling begins.

The option would be available in Mililani, but not in Hawai'i Kai. Regular twice-weekly trash collection is slated to end in January in both neighborhoods. Officials want to compare the two approaches to see which works best.

Voters overwhelmingly approved a 2006 city Charter amendment that added curbside recycling to the city's environmental duties.

Djou said recycling should have begun long ago.

"The discussion over whether we should do islandwide curbside recycling is over," he said. "The question is how, not whether."

Apo said the deadline he and Djou advocate would provide plenty of time to make sure operations run smoothly.

Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz said he wants to insert a "circuit-breaker" into the ordinance that would allow the garbage fee to be waived for low-income households.

Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall said such protection could be important, but was not sure a deadline was warranted.

"I want to see the results of the pilot programs before we go islandwide," she said.

"There's a school of thought that we need to force people to recycle. Maybe we will, but I'd like to see people comply voluntarily."

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.