Marpi landfill filling up fast

The nearly two-year old Marpi landfill is rapidly filling up, posing a concern that it may reach full capacity before its allotted time and prompting local authorities to ask for funding so it could be expanded.

Acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente convened the Solid Waste Task Force yesterday to discuss the expansion plan and possible options such as bringing in incineration technology to reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfill.

“It’s a concern at this point. It’s not urgent but it makes sense for us to make everyone aware about the situation and start looking at possibilities,” said Benavente, who chairs the task force.

The landfill’s life span is estimated at 16 years, but recycling of waste at the Lower Base Refuse Transfer Station is hoped to prolong its use.

Benavente said the Department of Public Works is tasked to prepare a plan for the expansion project, including a funding request to the Legislature.

He said incineration may be an option in view of the very costly construction and maintenance of a landfill.

“A landfill is very expensive to build. If there are other cost-effective ways, we’d explore such possibilities. One way to reduce the waste going to the landfill is incineration,” he said.

He note that the task force would ensure that any plan pursued would be acceptable to the community.

Other than expansion, Benavente said the task force is also looking at suggestions on having a universal collection center, which would allow private companies to do trash collection islandwide.

Another way, he said, is the setting up of a convenient center for additional collection. “It means that people would be paying for trash collection,” he said.

He said the existing private collection system on Saipan is not sufficient. “There are still a lot of people who don’t do that. Some bring their garbage to the dumpsite while others dump it illegally,” he said.

The CNMI government opened the Marpi landfill in February 2003 after over 15 years of struggle to close the Puerto Rico dump. The landfill reportedly required $20 million to build.

The landfill, which is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is hailed as the first of its kind in Micronesia.

He facility is a 26-acre waste management unit located on a 43-acre site. Authorities said the landfill has a 3.5-million-gallon capacity storage pond that would hold leachate, which shall be collected and treated before it is disposed of. It is also lined with high-density polyethylene liners as covering to prevent leachate from seeping into the ground and contaminating groundwater.

The landfill’s environmental permit is effective for five years.