HONOLULU -- The state has issued a nearly $3 million fine against the city and the private company that manages Oahu's only municipal landfall.

The city and its contractor, Waste Management Hawaii, are facing a $2.8 million fine from the state. The hefty fine is for permit violations that occurred over two years at the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill on the Waianae Coast.

The state said there were 18 different kinds of violations at the landfill, including: failure to cover garbage with dirt every day, allowing excessive water to collect at the bottom of the landfill and exceeding allowable height limits for piling up garbage and ash.

"We do consider them serious violations. That's why we imposed the large penalty," said Laurence Lau, of the state Health Department.

The city said many of the violations at the landfill occurred before Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration took office, but the state said the violations continued after Hannemann was in office.

Environmental Services Director Eric Takamura said some violations took more time than others to fix.

"We had to get ahold of what the issues were," Takamura said.

The city said Waste Management Hawaii will pay all of the fines.

"The taxpayers won't bear the burden," Takamura said.

Waste Management said in a written statement that the items discussed in the state's notice "had no effect on providing safe and reliable landfill services to the residents of Oahu."

Waste Management's recent improvements include a flare to burn off odors, fences to contain litter and an automatic collection system to keep excessive water from seeping to the bottom of the landfill.

Russell and Diane Schneider live across the street from the landfill. They wish it would close immediately, but they said now it's a lot less smelly.

In addition to nearly $3 million in fines, the state has ordered the city and Waste Management to show how they plan to comply with all permit conditions. Both the city and the state said they expect Waste Management to ask for a hearing to protest the amount of the fine.