DEQ to collect hazardous household waste

The Division of Environmental Quality will begin collecting hazardous household waste at the end of the month as part of its campaign to eliminate contamination in the environment.

It was the first time that a Household Hazardous Waste Drive dubbed as Na Gatbo Marianas was launched in the Commonwealth. The collection will be carried out on July 30, July 31 and August 1 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the north side of the Army Reserve Center in Puerto Rico.

According to Michael Wright, information officer of DEQ, a contractor has been hired to ship off-island the hazardous waste for recycling and/or proper disposal. DEQ will not accept hazardous waste from commercial generators.

As the Northern Marianas starts working on the construction of a new landfill in Marpi, Wright noted the importance of reducing the amount of solid waste on the island. DEQ will make it an annual or biannual campaign depending on its success.

Among the types of waste DEQ would accept are used automobile oil, cooking oil, gas/diesel fuel, coolants (antifreeze) paints/varnishes/stains thinners, removers/degreasers, expired pesticides, acids (muriatic, hydrochloric) automobile batteries, marine batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries dry cell batteries (AA, AAA, D, etc.) spray paint cans, fluorescent light bulbs.

An island-wide solid waste management plan is currently being drafted by Harding Lawson Associates which will also implement a year-long educational campaign on recycling.

A tipping fee will be implemented to help the administration maintain a solid waste management facility and encourage companies to recycle. However, businesses will only be asked to pay fees based on the amount of waste that they dump.

The 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.

Instead of simply looking for a quick fix, the administration must make a commitment to carry out a long-term, economically viable solution to its solid waste problem, said John Harder, Municipal Waste Program manager.

Harder noted that the most significant barrier in implementing an improved waste management strategy on Saipan 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. He added that it is important for decision makers to make a commitment to waste diversion as an integral part of the waste management system.