{"id":344101,"date":"2021-05-13T06:01:51","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T20:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=344101"},"modified":"2021-05-13T06:01:51","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T20:01:51","slug":"palauan-group-supports-universal-garbage-collection-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/palauan-group-supports-universal-garbage-collection-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Palauan group supports universal garbage collection system"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Officers and members of the Palauan Community Association-CNMI and Naftan Commiteee haul a trailer full of trash that they collected during a clean up drive at Naftan Point last Saturday. (Contributed photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Palauan Community Association-CNMI, or PCA-CNMI, has joined the call of the Governor\u2019s Council of Economic Advisers to implement a universal garbage collection system to address concerns on improper waste disposal in the Marianas.<\/p>\n

The Naftan Committee of the PCA-CNMI witnessed first-hand the rampant illegal dumping on Saipan after conducting a cleanup drive at Naftan Point last Saturday. PCA-CNMI has chosen Naftan Point as its adopted site in support of GCEA\u2019s Public Private Partnership initiative, and was disappointed that even this remote area was not spared from being an illegal dumping site.
\n\u201cIt saddens us to see that so much household and commercial trash are being dumped at our adopted site,\u201d said Naftan Committee chair Elsie Ngewakl.<\/p>\n

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The group also found used oil, tires, and other auto shop trash at Naftan Point and needed a pick-up truck and trailer to load the garbage and dispose of them properly. Their personal experience at Naftan Point and the stories they\u2019ve heard about the widespread illegal dumping in the CNMI prompted the organization to call for immediate action to these concerns.
\n\u201cA systematic garbage disposal process is needed in the CNMI as soon as possible. It will benefit the people and our environment. I for one like the idea of installing trash bins at beaches and destination sites. \u2026It will prevent plastic bags from flying into the water,\u201d Ngewakl said.<\/p>\n

Under its proposed UGC system, GCEA suggests regularly scheduled curbside pick-ups and installing trash receptacles in open spaces. There will be garbage collection zones across Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, similar to the current electoral precincts system on the islands, with each zone having communal garbage transfer stations. GCEA is also pushing for the practice of the 3Rs in waste disposal\u2014reduce, reuse, and recycle\u2014and strict and consistent enforcement of the existing anti-littering law in the CNMI.<\/p>\n

GCEA, led by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres as its chairman, thanked PCA-CNMI and the Naftan Committee, all PPP partners, and other members of the community for their efforts in helping clean the islands and spread awareness and education on how to curb illegal waste disposal.<\/p>\n