Bill setting aside money for recycling gets DEQ boost

Division of Environmental Quality Director Ignacio Cabrera has expressed support on a proposed measure which will designate a portion of the existing Beverage Container Tax for recycling efforts to be carried out by the Division of Solid Waste Management of the Department of Public Works and DEQ.

A five percent surcharge on all soft drink and alcoholic beverage containers assessed under the CNMI Beverage Container Tax directly goes to the CNMI General Fund for unspecified purposes.

House Bill 12-041 would direct 50 percent of all moneys collected from the existing Beverage Container Tax for DSWM’s use to support a beverage container recycling program. “We feel that targeting a portion of these funds for recycling is an appropriate use of the taxes collected on incoming containers and will provide the necessary funds to operate the program,” Mr. Cabrera said.

Funds from the beverage container tax will be used to provide the public with refunds for the return of the containers, to subsidize the costs associated with shipping the beverage containers to a recycling facility and cover the costs of public education campaigns (signs, printed material, media coverage, etc.)

As a whole, the beverage container recycling program is part of the larger Integrated Solid Waste Management Program which DPW and DEQ are mandated to implement under Public Law 6-30, otherwise known as the Solid Waste Management Act.

Aside from diverting valuable resources from the waste stream and extending the limited life of the new landfill, development of an aggressive beverage container recycling program will provide the following:

• economic incentives to residents to participate in recycling in the form of refunds on the returned containers.

• significant reductions in the number of cans and bottles littering our beaches, marine waters, parks and highways.

• an increased environmental awareness among all residents and visitors, a better understanding of their responsibilities to the land and a reduction in illegal dumping of all kinds.

• stimulation of local businesses involved in the recycling program, diversification of the economy, creation of new jobs and increase of tax revenues.

• set an example of a model recycling program in the Pacific and will give the CNMI the opportunity to take a leadership role in solid waste management amongst the island nations in the Pacific, all of whom have similar issues of limited space, limited natural resources and solid waste management problems.