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DEQ to revive anti-litter patrol
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Posted on Oct 31 2000
Amid the recent discovery of a dumping area in Kagman 2, the Division of Environmental Quality is now planning to revive the creation of litter control officers who will be responsible in apprehending people who illegally dump their garbage on the island.
David Chargualaf, manager of Air and Toxic Branch, warned those who will be caught dumping their trash anywhere on the island that they will be prosecuted and ordered to pay a fine from $200 to $500.
“We will ask the court to order them to clean up the area where they dumped their garbage. There is only one dumpsite here and that is in Puerto Rico,” he said.
Mr. Chargualaf said the illegal dumping may be due to the imposition of tipping fee and the lack of a transfer station in areas more accessible to the public.
DEQ has met with Solid Waste Division Manager John Harder to find ways on how to resolve the problem before it becomes unmanageable. Mr. Chargualaf said a comprehensive educational campaign will also be launched to inform the people the dangers of illegal dumping of garbage to public health and the environment.
The government has decided to collect tipping fee to force the people to recycle and be more conscious of the amount of garbage they throw away. “We just have to move fast in carrying out education campaigns and establishing of the transfer station,” Mr. Chargualaf said.
DEQ has requested the police to monitor Kagman 2 to discourage people from dumping their waste there or in any open space on the island.
The litter control officers will include employees from the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Department of Public Safety, Department of Public Works and the Marianas Visitors Authority. Training of litter control officers by DEQ stopped in 1998.
“We will contact those we have already trained before and will begin training new people so that we can move on with the enforcement job,” said Chargualaf.
