Beverage tax sought for recycling plan

The Solid Waste Task Force has asked the CNMI government to earmark 50 percent of the money collected from the beverage container tax for the island’s recycling program.

Implementing a recycling program is a necessary component of an island-wide solid waste facility plan since it will be very expensive for the administration to keep on expanding or building a landfill in the future, according to John Harder, Municipal Waste Program manager.

“We feel that we should make people aware that disposal cost money and they should look at ways to reduce their waste,” he said. The task force has already acquired basic equipment needed for the recycling system.

The task force has drafted a regulation and has asked businesses to comment on the proposed tipping fees which would be based on the amount of waste they dump.

Earlier, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has signed into law a bill on the government’s recycling program which focuses on reducing the amount of waste generated by residential, commercial and industrial establishments in the CNMI.

Efforts are already underway to identify off-island markets which may be interested to buy recyclable wastes that may be used in the manufacturing of new products. Construction of recycling processing stations will be made as the task force carries out an educational campaign.

The Commonwealth government spends $600,000 to $700,000 a year in managing the Puerto Rico dump. Mr. Harder said the cost of managing the Marpi landfill when it is fully operational may cost the CNMI government $1 million a year since the Solid Waste Division would need additional staff for its recycling program.

Some $16 million has been set aside for the design and construction of a new landfill in Marpi and another $10 million is being targeted to be appropriated for the closure of Puerto Rico dumpsite.

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 a consulting firm in October 1994.

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 Mr. 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.

Design of the Marpi landfill is expected to be completed in June and construction will only begin once the U.S. Fish and Wildlife has given the CNMI government the go signal for the project.