Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Friday, March 01, 2013

PDM Promoters' cleanup nets 1.5K lbs of trash

The non-profit group PDM Promoters, Inc. almost missed its monthly cleanup, managing to do it on the last day of February.

Representative Sonia Siwa said yesterday that they usually hold the cleanup on the first Saturday of the month. In February, however, PDM Promoters, Inc. volunteers were busy with work because of the increase in tourism arrivals in the last few months.

Most of the adult volunteers of the group are staffers of Kinpachi Restaurant, and Siwa said 10 of them took part in Thursday's cleanup.

“We wanted to make sure that we do a cleanup for February, so we scheduled it on the last day of the month. Because it's a weekday, the Saipan Awaodori dancers were unable to join us since they're all in school,” Siwa told Saipan Tribune.

A total of 1,520 lbs of trash-mostly cigarette butts, empty cans, Styrofoam containers, and beer bottles-were collected from yesterday's activity. Siwa attributed the increased amount to the huge gap since they last did a cleanup on Jan. 12.

PDM Promoters, Inc. appeals to business establishments along Paseo de Marianas to provide trash bins for their customers.

Siwa noted that during their cleanup, the drinking fountains along Paseo de Marianas were teeming with trash from customers who purchased food or drinks from stores in the area.

Since the business establishments don't provide outdoor garbage receptacles for customers, their trash are placed on the drinking fountains. Siwa said the trash get scattered around when it's windy, becoming eyesores.

“I hope these businesses take the initiative to be responsible for their own trash. It's also for their own benefit because if the establishment has a clean exterior and surroundings, it can attract more customers,” she said.

Siwa added that they expect to have their young volunteers join them once again in this month's cleanup.

Volunteers of PDM Promoters, Inc. smile for the camera after their monthly Garapan cleanup yesterday. The group collected a total of 1,520 lbs of trash.