Harders says integrated solid waste management, not quick fix solution

The administration must make a commitment to carry out a long-term, economically viable solution to its solid waste problem rather than simply looking for a quick fix, according to John Harder, Municipal Waste Program manager.

According to Harder, the most significant barrier in implementing an improved waste management strategy on Saipan is difficult due to lack of understanding among traditional public works managers, decision makers and waste generators regarding the real costs of solid waste management and the value of investment in the infrastructure.

It is important for decision makers to make a commitment to waste diversion as an integral part of the waste management system.

“Developing a solution requires a commitment of resources, of agency participation, and a commitment to use recycled material and purchase recycled products in a day to day operations,” said Harder.

The CNMI is hoping to implement an Integrated Solid Waste Management, which involves balancing available options based on total costs, environmental issues and local capabilities.

Pacific islands should aggressively pursue island-based solutions just like other island communities which have become successful in developing solutions for specific waste materials, he said.

“Rather than selecting a one-fits-all-solution, which may maximize handling and processing costs while minimizing value, it only makes sense to target new programs to the most cost-effective solution for each material,” said Harder.

Harder is optimistic that recycling will work on Saipan despite all the negative factors such as high collection costs, inefficient processing capacity and lack of markets. “To take recycling to the next level, the diversion of from 35 to 50 percent of the waste stream, really only requires a change in the way the system perceives recycling and other waste diversion activities,” he said.

The CNMI will not see a significant improvement in processing and manufacturing activities without an investment and commitment similar to that afforded to other waste management components.

“To make recycling work, we need to realize that we are all part of the problem, we all generate waste, and we all need to be part of the solution,” said Harder.

The administration will ask businesses to pay fees based on the amount of waste they dump to share the cost of maintaining a solid waste management facility and encourage companies to recycle.

The Solid Waste Task Force believes that setting an equitable fee for companies would make them think twice before directly throwing away things and decide instead to recycle them. Residents will not be charged for their disposal of garbage.

The Solid Waste Division is drafting an island-wide solid waste facility plan based on the recommendations obtained in waste management study and cost benefit analysis completed by EMCON in October 1994.

The study identified two options which would provide the best cost-benefit strategies to the commonwealth. One option focused on implementing a simple diversion strategy, while the other added the use of incinerator to reduce waste by 100 tons per day. Both required a new landfill as the backbone of the system.

However, due to the existence of a substandard, low cost operation at Puerto Rico Dump and the lack of commitment to provide funding for the necessary development of infrastructure, the plan drafted by EMCON was never implemented.

This early, the task force cannot determine yet how much would be the overall cost of the project although the federal government and the legislature has already set aside $16 million for the design and construction of the new landfill in Marpi.

Based on Harder’s proposed solid waste management plan, the Commonwealth must develop an approach which provides flexibility, utilizes technologies appropriate to local conditions and focuses on maximizing the diversion of the largest volume, highest value materials first.

In solving the solid waste problem, Harder offered an eight-point solution: ensuring the long-term landfill capacity, construction of refuse transfer station, maximizing traditional waste recycling activities, developing adequate capacity for the cost-effective processing of recyclables, setting up a greenwaste mulching and composting facility, develop an aggressive special waste program, establishing a fiscally self-sufficient and semi-independent Solid Waste Division and assessment of planning for alternative methods of waste disposal.