Curbside pickup of household chemicals, e-waste, appliances available

HONOLULU—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun assessing and removing oil and hazardous waste on Saipan and Tinian to reduce risks to public health and the environment following Super Typhoon Yutu.

In addition, agencies are offering curbside pickup of hazardous materials from residential and commercial properties as well as public drop-off locations for items such as paints, solvents, herbicides, e-waste, appliances and other goods.

Along with EPA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, other disaster response agencies include the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, and the Mayor’s Offices of Saipan and Tinian.

EPA’s activities include collecting, testing, shipping and disposing of hazardous materials such as damaged electric transformers, household hazardous waste, electronic waste and white goods.
EPA is also operating two public drop-off stations on Saipan and one on Tinian.

In addition, EPA is helping local agencies sample drinking water and providing technical assistance for wastewater operations and water supply restoration.

Curbside pickup
The mayor’s offices and BECQ are picking up household hazardous waste (paint, solvents, pesticides, other chemicals), appliances and electronics. Place your items curbside and keep separate from green waste, tin and construction materials. 

The last pickup sweep on Tinian is on Dec. 5 and Saipan on Dec. 17, so put your items out now. Pickups of items will happen per village with crews coming to each area starting from the south and ending in the north and repeating these pickups for a total of three sweeps of each area.

Drop-off locations

SAIPAN:
Lower Base Transfer Station: Now until Dec. 14, 7:30am to 4:50pm, seven days a week.
As Gonno Staging Area (Kobler Airfield, near Tottottville): Now until Dec. 2, 8:30am to 4:00pm, seven days a week.

TINIAN:
Tinian port (near CPA building): Now until Dec. 3, 9am to 3pm, Monday through Saturday.
For more information on household hazardous waste, electronic waste, or white goods disposal, contact the CNMI BECQ at 664-8500.
 
Response update
EPA is working with CUC on transformer collection. To date, 492 transformers have been collected on Saipan and 166 on Tinian. EPA is collecting and removing household hazardous waste such as paints, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, herbicides and pesticides.

CUC has restored 108 of 131 water wells currently producing 9.6 million gallons per day, or about 82 percent of the total capacity. All areas of Saipan are receiving water; some areas with limited hours and every other day. (PR)