From left, Dandan Middle School students Althea Sogurilon, Ezdiane Jacolbe and John Alberto display recycled products they made with plastics collected at their school. DMS has a 3-in-1 recycling machine which allows users to create bowls and rulers pictured below. The clock was created with a custom mold fabricated by students.
THE Mariana Islands Nature Alliance will conduct a free training session for its Community Recycles Plastic Program this Thursday, Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon at the American Memorial Park amphitheater, MINA Outreach Coordinator Joseph Nekaifes said.
He said the event is open to the public and is a way to train community members to recognize the kinds of plastics that can be used in the 3-in-1 Upcycling Machine.
The machine is capable of shredding and melting plastic as well as extruding molten plastic. It can also repurpose certain plastics into items like bowls, large plastic sheets, rulers, and more.
Nekaifes said at the upcoming training, participants will learn that not all plastics are the same. He added that there are around seven groups of plastics available on Saipan, yet only four can be repurposed using the 3-in-1 Upcycling Machine.
He said the training will help the community recognize and sort the kinds of plastics that can go into the machines.
Nekaifes said there are currently 3-in-1 Upcycling Machines at Saipan International School, Dandan Middle School, Northern Marianas Technical Institute, among other schools. There is also a MINA plastic collection station at San Vicente Church.
He hopes that with increased awareness of what recyclable plastics are, MINA can see increased success in the implementation of its Community Recycles Plastic Program.
He said interested parties can email minaoutreach@gmail.com for questions regarding the training.
