Tougher anti-littering law sought

The House of Representatives may pass legislation to give teeth to anti-littering regulations amid reports that several residents are using some parts on the islands as dumping ground for their garbage.

Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider expressed dismay during a House session yesterday over the illegal dumping, describing the situation as “despicable” as the tons of trash have ruined the otherwise pristine beaches and open spaces on Saipan.

“Have we gone this bad,” he asked his colleagues, noting efforts by some to clean up beaches, such as Obyan and Ladder Beach, are going to naught if residents continue to dump their trash elsewhere.

According to the Saipan representative, the practice has worsened in recent weeks after the Department of Public Works imposed a tipping fee on the garbage generated by households and establishments here.

The trash, some of which are old car batteries and drums of used oil, have been disposed in villages like Kagman and Koblerville, Mr. Hofschneider said.

“You know where they came from because you can the see the name [imprinted on the trash], ” he added.

While the Division of Environmental Quality has beefed up its campaign against littering, the lawmaker said residents should change their attitude to stop this practice.

“Is this the kind of [attraction] we want to show to our visitors?” he said. “If we don’t have that personal responsibility, we will never be looked at as a civil society.”

In response to the concerns, Speaker Benigno R. Fitial immediately instructed the two House legal counsels to look into the possibility of strengthening existing regulations against dumping.

He said the lower house may draw up a proposal in which a “bounty system” could be set up to give rewards to anybody who tells authorities responsible for the illegal dumping.

“We have a serious problem. The right agencies should do something about it,” said Mr. Fitial.

DEQ is reviving the creation of litter control officers to apprehend people who throw away their trash in areas not specified by authorities.

Under existing law, violators will be prosecuted and can face fines of between $200 to $500.

A comprehensive educational campaign will also be launched by the agency to inform the people the dangers of illegal dumping of garbage to public health and 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.

The CNMI is set to build a sanitary landfill in Marpi to shut down the Puerto Rico dumpsite which has become an eyesore for the past few years.