SAIPAN — The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality’s Division of Environmental Quality is reminding the public that CNMI litter control and illegal dumping laws remain in full effect during recovery from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the agency said in a public notice.
DEQ said it understands that recovery efforts following the typhoon have created significant challenges for residents, businesses, and communities across the CNMI. The agency acknowledged that waste management and debris disposal may be a sensitive issue during this time. However, the agency said improper disposal of waste, debris, household trash, construction materials, and hazardous materials can create serious environmental, public health, and public safety concerns.
Under the Commonwealth Litter Control Act and applicable CNMI environmental regulations, littering and illegal dumping are prohibited on public and private lands and waters, DEQ said. Litter under the act includes garbage, trash, rubbish, refuse, paper containers, construction materials, bottles, cans, debris, organic waste, and other discarded materials that deface public places or infrastructure. Littering or illegal dumping is defined as throwing, dropping, placing, depositing, discarding, or otherwise disposing of waste on land or water outside of authorized disposal containers or permitted facilities.
To assist residents with ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts, the Department of Public Works Transfer Station in Lower Base remains open to the public, and all residential disposal fees have been waived until further notice, DEQ said. Residents are encouraged to use the transfer station to properly dispose of household waste. Residents can also dispose of typhoon-related green waste, sheet metals, and electronic waste free of charge at the Temporary Debris Storage and Reduction Site in As Gonno.
DEQ also reminded the public that only typhoon-related debris is permitted to be staged along curbsides for collection by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Acceptable curbside debris includes vegetative or green waste, sheet metals, construction and demolition debris, household hazardous waste, appliances and white goods, and electronic waste generated as a direct result of Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Household garbage, regular domestic waste, tires, and other non-typhoon-related materials should not be placed along roadways or curbsides for collection.
Violators of CNMI litter control and illegal dumping laws may be subject to citations, administrative orders, fines, and additional enforcement actions under applicable CNMI laws and regulations, DEQ said. Suspected illegal dumping or littering activities should be reported to the BECQ-DEQ office.
DEQ said it encourages residents to work together in maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment as the Commonwealth continues recovery efforts.