THE CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality will issue a citation to the man accused of illegal dumping in a video circulated online Sunday by a concerned citizen.
“There will be a citation issued as there is intent,” said Eli Cabrera, BECQ administrator.
“We are currently working on how to approach the violation. The [man’s] family/children later picked up the trash that he dumped,” Cabrera added.
He said the BECQ anti-littering team had visited the home of the individual accused of illegal dumping.
On Sunday, a concerned citizen video-recorded the bags of trash dumped by a man at the old airport in the Koblerville area.
The concerned citizen also video-recorded the man himself as he got into his black pick-up truck and drove away.
“Look at his guy,” the concerned citizen said on the video; “he came over here, Sunday, to throw his trash while others are at the church. Look at his license plate. Check him out. While others are at the church he is coming over here to throw his trash.”
The concerned citizen added, “When me and my wife were passing by, we said, is this guy coming to help our area by picking up the trash? Ahe! [no]. He threw the trash…himself!”
The concerned citizen also identified the individual.
Later, another video-recording was posted on social media, this time showing family members of the man, picking up the trash bags and asking everyone not to continue sharing the earlier video of the concerned citizen.
BECQ Administrator Eli Cabrera, for his part, is asking community members to “please dispose your trash properly.”
The Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers, in a separate statement to Variety, said:
“Illegal dumping and littering are serious community issues. This incident is one of many that had prompted the GCEA to explore the concept of universal garbage collection for the CNMI.
“We believe that…an established program with ongoing education and enforcement of the anti-littering law will help bring about a positive resolution to this issue.”
The council encourages “everyone to dispose of their garbage properly. As seen in our Public-Private Partnership Program, it is important to work together as a community to improve our island and protect our natural resources. Let’s remember that this is our home, and we should take pride in keeping it clean.”
The council also thanked “the littering enforcement team for their work. We also thank the community member who reported this incident to the authorities.”
