Recycling is now a law

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has signed into law a legislation that seeks to extend the life span of the new landfill in Marpi through intensified promotion of recycling wastes in the Northern Marianas.

Called the Commonwealth Recycling Act of 1999, Public Law 11-122 seeks to divert toxic and hazardous materials from the new dumpsite in Marpi.

“These efforts are vital to our environment,” Mr. Tenorio said in a letter to the Legislature, adding that steps should also be taken by enforcing agencies to ensure that fees are within reasonable level.

“The economy has not fully recovered, so any fees required under this legislation should be assessed at a reasonable amount,” the CNMI chief executive added.

The government’s solid waste and recycling program will focus at reducing the amount of waste generated by both residents and commercial and industrial establishments in the Northern Marianas by advancing the merits of recycling.

Under the solid waste management program, public education will be initiated to encourage the public to recycle metal, plastic and paper wastes, while promoting the value of composting biodegradable wastes.

Efforts are already underway to identify off-island markets which may be interested to buy recyclable wastes which may be used in the manufacturing of new products.

Composting green wastes is also feasible in the Northern Marianas. Construction of recycling processing stations in the islands are also being considered to address solid waste woes.

Construction of the new sanitary landfill in Marpi is expected to be completed by middle of June 2001.

The project does not only include the construction of the new landfill as it also encompasses an analysis of the waste currently being dumped in Puerto Rico.

The project is also focused at the development of an island-wide solid waste management plan, a year-long public education, a conceptual design for waste to energy incineration, and the design for transfer station from Puerto Rico to the new dump site.

The Solid Waste Task Force has already completed the installation of ground water monitoring wells at the new site in Marpi, as it anticipates to begin assessment of various plans for its ultimate use.

The Task Force is exploring the possibility of developing a landscape park out in replacement of the Puerto Rico landfill to complement the adjacent American Memorial Park.

The federal government and the CNMI Legislature had allocated $16 million for the total project which include the design and construction aspects, as well as for the procurement of equipment.