THE Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.-Environmental Health Disease Prevention, in collaboration with the Saipan Mayor’s office, will conduct premise inspections in the villages.
CHCC said the inspection is in line with the mayor’s routine village beautification program to address improper trash or garbage disposal that contributes to litter and vector harborage in the communities.
Harborage is anything that attracts or provides shelter for vectors: “Any insect or other arthropod, rodent or other animal capable of harboring or transmitting causative agents of human disease, or capable of causing human discomfort and injury.”
CHCC noted that the mayor’s office staff frequently observed trash scattered on the streets or sidewalks during their routine village cleanup.
CHCC said this not only affects the environment but the mental and physical well-being of residents as well.
Pursuant to Public Law 14-15, or the Waste Container Lid Requirement Act of 2004, it is a public nuisance and a health hazard for garbage or trash to be accumulated in trash containers on either public or private property without tightly fitting lids or covers.
Garbage or trash must be properly covered and secured, and surrounding areas should be clean and free of debris.
Household trash can be disposed of at the Lower Base Transfer Station.
According to CHCC, the trash inspection will start in Kagman.
Environmental Health Disease Prevention or EHDP inspectors will inspect houses and businesses to assess compliance with trash confinement and disposal requirements, as well as identify and remove potential vector breeding sites.
CHCC is reminding the public that failure to comply with the requirements of P.L. 14-15 may result in a notice of violation and a civil fine of $100 for each violation, plus an additional $50 for each day of failure to comply with the law.
The public is also advised to tie up or confine dogs for the safety of the inspectors and staff of the mayor’s office.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to do the following to keep the island clean and healthy:
• Properly secure and dispose of trash or garbage in approved waste containers. Use of cardboard boxes, buckets, or other open containers are prohibited by law.
• Ensure waste containers have tight fitting lids and are kept closed at all times.
• Ensure sufficient storage between collection or disposal.
• Clean up all trash around your premise, especially those that can hold water, such as loose tires, bottles, buckets, cans, etc.
• Regularly clean and empty water tanks and other containers used to store water, and make sure these containers have screens to cover any openings.
• Frequently change the water in flower vases and other containers that routinely contain water, including pet dishes.
• Inoperable vehicles parked on public easements also provide harborage for vermin and rodents. Inoperable vehicles will be tagged by the Zoning Office and forwarded to the mayor’s office for removal.
For more information or to report a violation of P.L. 14-15, contact the EHDP office at 664-4870/2/3 or email [email protected]
One of the junk cars spotted by the Saipan Mayor’s Office in a village.
Contributed photo
