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Apatang: We’re still picking up Yutu debris
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Posted on Jun 12 2019
The Saipan Mayor’s Office continues to pick up Super Typhoon Yutu debris along the roads of the island.
Over seven months after Super Typhoon Yutu hit Saipan, the Saipan Mayor’s Office continues to pick up debris using local resources, said David M. Apatang on Monday.
However, the only way they would pick up the debris and drop it at the Marpi site for processing is if it were segregated properly per debris type.
“We will not pick up debris that are mixed because the landfill will not accept those,” he said.
The debris piles should be segregated based on material, which means separate piles for roofing tins, lumber, and green waste such as branches, leaves, and the like.
“Do not mix trash. We will not pick that up,” he said. “…Separate them and then call our office.”
The mayor noted that his office uses their trailers every day to pick up the debris to bring them to the staging area in Marpi.
“I am asking the public…if you want us to help you, you need to help us out too. Do not mix all the [debris],” he said, adding that the office would not touch household trash as well.
“We will continue to pick up debris as long as people cooperate,” Apatang noted.
The Saipan Mayor’s Office has already collected 102,404 cubic yards of waste all over Saipan from Oct. 26, 2018, up to Feb. 2, 2019.
According to Apatang, his office has not stopped doing so even when using local resources. To put that into perspective, a sedan is about two to four cubic meters.
Apatang noted that the ongoing austerity measures has had minimal, but felt, effect on the Mayor’s Office debris pickup project.
“We try to work around the austerity measures,” he said, adding that his office would follow Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ directive to implement a 72-hour pay period.
“We would try to do what we can from Monday to Thursday,” he said, adding that marital services and other services would still be offered on Fridays.
“As long as we have fuel and communication, our office would be okay,” he said.
