SGMA eyes recycling partnership with NMC

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association is asking the Business Development Center of the Northern Marianas College to establish a non-profit corporation that would help raise funds out of garment wastes disposed of at the Puerto Rico dump.

Students, interns, or regular employees could run the new company, According to SGMA Executive Director Richard A. Pierce. “SGMA would guarantee access to the substantial scrap material that is currently trashed, burned or, to a limited extent, recycled on a daily basis.”

He explained that all potentially recyclable materials would be sorted at each individual factory. Valuable materials such as cotton fabric scrap would be warehoused near the ports. Cheaper materials like synthetics could be transported to the forthcoming Marpi landfill and used as fuel for the site’s planned waste-to-energy incinerator.

The non-profit company would handle all aspects of managing this new business. “This project would be of great benefit to the community and the environment,” said Mr. Pierce.

SGMA has been conducting the preliminary research for the past year. The organization contacted the US Environmental Protection Agency for technical information, and then met with a representative from a local shipping company.

SGMA also met with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to discuss the possibility of favorable shipping rates and to discuss a reduction in the costly CNMI Ports User Fees to help make the project work.

Mr. Pierce said the warehouse space should be located near the ports for easy sorting, storage, and eventual shipment to Asian recycling centers.

“The CNMI Government could be a partner in this project by locating public land near the port to assist in keeping overhead down to really make the project work by making costs meet the money returned,” said Mr. Pierce.

The idea for the project was originally discussed when Mr. Pierce attended the Business for Social Responsibility Conference in Boston Massachusetts last year.

Mr. Pierce, in conversation with BSR President and CEO Robert Dunn and Project Manager Ian Spaulding, discussed the possible project after a Strategic Partnership session at the conference. Mr. Dunn is the former CEO of Levi’s Strauss Company.

SGMA continues its preliminary research this week when the organization meets with Eric Plinske from the college’s Small Business Development Center and Linwood Seaver from NMC.