E-Land Group, Lollipops are MINA Adopt-A-Bin sponsors

E-Land Group volunteers and students from Koblerville Elementary School pose for a photo during their cleanup at Coral Point Beach. (Contributed Photo)

The Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant awarded in 2015, was able to expand its Adopt-a-Bin Program, designed to encourage recycling throughout Saipan, by fabricating seven new recycle bins for placement around the island. The new bins are at the Garapan Fishing Base, Oleai Beach, Sugar Dock, Laly 4, San Antonio Beach, Coral Ocean Point, and Obyan Beach. With these new bins came the opportunity for MINA to take on new sponsors for the program.

As a result, MINA has two new sponsors for its Adopt-a-Bin program: the E-Land Welfare Foundation and Lollipops. The E-Land Group is well-established in other countries with activities that support job creation, scholarship opportunities, public facilities, vocational training, and even medical support in some countries. E-Land is not a new face to protecting our island’s natural beauty. They often partner with students with the hopes to create a safe and sustainable environment through their environmental youth campaigns.

Lollipops is a locally owned business, offering a huge selection of toys and clothing for young children since 1987. After many years of customer requests, they expanded their boutique for young teens called “Girl Talk.” With the mission to make shopping a fun and enjoyable experience for children and their parents, they are enthusiastic about their new sponsorship of the Adopt-a-Bin program and to give back to the island through supporting conservation efforts through recycling.

The Adopt-a-Bin program was established in 2010 with the goal to grow and strengthen a culture of recycling to reduce marine debris on Saipan’s waters. Sponsors are a pivotal part in the sustainability of the program, providing a valuable service to the community. In addition to E-Land and Lollipops, current sponsors include Marianas Trekking, Flametree TV, Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Managaha Pride Campaign, Ideal Signs/Saipan Computer Services, Brabu Pharmacy, IT&E, IP&E, Laolao Bay Pride Campaign, Marianas Visitors Authority, Northern Marianas Diving Operators Association, and Bridge Capital. Each sponsorship year, these businesses conduct a bi-annual cleanup around their site. Since the initiation of this program, over 150 tons of garbage have been collected in the recycling bins.

Today, there are 20 recycle bins placed throughout Saipan, 13 of which are already being sponsored and even that are open for adoption. For more information on becoming a sponsor, contact MINA at minaoutreach@gmail.com. (PR)