$612,441 awarded to the CNMI through EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program for States and Territories to jumpstart recycling initiatives on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota

ANNOUNCEMENTS | September 15, 2023

Through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program for States and Territories the CNMI was awarded $612,441 which will be used to purchase and repair recycling equipment and hire additional operating staff. Balers on Rota and Tinian will process scrap metal and derelict vehicles, a vehicle on Saipan will manage green waste, and equipment on Saipan will support sensitive data destruction and electronics recycling.

“The EPA grant funding advances the CNMI's commitment to a cleaner and greener future for our Commonwealth. It also places our islands closer to the shared vision where waste is minimized, resources are conserved, and our pristine natural beauty is preserved for generations to come,” said Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor Arnold I. Palacios. “We are thankful for the collaborative work of the CNMI Inter-Island Solid Waste Management Taskforce and the EPA for making this possible. Together, we're setting a course for a more sustainable CNMI.”

“I'd like to recognize the CNMI Inter-Island Solid Waste Management Taskforce for their hard work in securing this crucial funding. Through SWIFR, the CNMI will make critical investments in equipment and personnel to jumpstart recycling initiatives. On behalf of the Governor and Lt. Governor, the CNMI thanks the U.S. EPA for their tireless support of the Commonwealth's commitment to sustainability and achieving Zero Waste”, said Elizabeth Balajadia, Acting Director of the CNMI Office of Planning and Development.

View the fact sheet for the CNMI's SWIFR grant funding here.