An Office of Grant Management and State Clearinghouse employee gathers aluminum cans on Rota.
THE Office of Grants Management and State Clearinghouse has extended the 5-5-5 Recycling Redemption Initiative 2023 as recommended by Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang.
Residents can still bring their aluminum cans to Artman Corporation in Tanapag from Sept. 28, Thursday, to Sept. 30, Saturday, and redeem 5 cents for each can.
5-5-5 stands for “5 million cans for 5 months at 5 cents per aluminum can.”
The initiative, which started on April 1, gives members of the community an opportunity to participate in a CNMI-wide recycling program and earn cash for their unwanted cans.
OGM-SC Administrator Epiphanio E. Cabrera Jr. said the five-million mark in collecting aluminum cans was reached on Aug. 31, 2023. However, OGM-SC continues to receive calls from those who still have bags of unredeemed aluminum cans, and many felt that there was no ample notice about the initiative’s closure.
OGM-SC Grants Specialist Flor Deleon Guerrero said last week, they received the final shipment of aluminum cans from Tinian and Rota recycling stations.
Rota processed a total of $5,079.35 in payments for aluminum cans, Tinian processed $7,404.35 while Saipan reached the $240,000 mark in mid-August.
Many of the aluminum cans were gathered on roads, beaches, in boonies and other public premises, Deleon Guerrero said.
Cabrera said the Office of the Governor and OGM extend their “profound gratitude to the public for their unwavering support in our mission to create a sustainable, eco-friendly environment.”
He also expressed hope that the Senate will pass Rep. Manny Gregory Castro’s House Bill 23-18 or the Beverage Container Act of 2023, which would levy a charge on each beverage container and in return would hold a refund value. This would also allow a mechanism to continue the redemption initiative in the CNMI, Cabrera said.
Deleon Guerrero reminds the general public that Artman Corporation’s office hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the initiative will continue while funds last. “So don’t wait for the last day, come early and redeem your cans!” she added.
OGM would also like to express its gratitude to Pacific Marine Enterprises for shipping all the cans from Rota to Saipan.
“Logistics was difficult between the islands,” Deleon Guerrero said. “Especially with the timing of delivery trucks and the emergency spray treatment of the bags to prevent unwanted invasive species from reaching Saipan ports,” she added.
Cabrera said in the future, the CNMI government will obtain more grants for climate pollution reduction, recycling, solid waste management, environmental protection and energy-related projects.
