CNMI Showcases New 30-Ton Shredder to Support Disaster Recovery and Waste Management
ANNOUNCEMENTS | June 13, 2025
At the 32nd Pacific Islands Environmental Training Symposium (PIETS), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Office of Planning and Development (OPD) and Department of Public Works (DPW) showcased its new 30-ton multi-purpose shredder, which will be used to process the large volume of stockpiled debris on Saipan from 2018’s Super Typhoon Yutu.
Currently, more than 80,000 cubic yards of disaster debris — including mattresses, furniture, scrap wood, and other materials — are staged at the Marpi Landfill on Saipan, and debris sorting and shredding will soon get underway. Once the debris is processed and properly disposed of, the shredder will be used to handle tires and other non-hazardous materials. Recyclable and reusable materials will be diverted from the CNMI’s only Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D landfill, helping extend its operational lifespan.
The acquisition of this shredder is a recent and tangible example of the benefits of the temporary pause granted to U.S. Territories like the CNMI of the “Build America, Buy America” (BABA) policy. The pause allowed the CNMI to address its unique logistical challenges by partnering with a vendor operating in a more convenient time zone and offering notably lower costs than stateside suppliers, enabling the CNMI government to save funds and direct those savings toward other priority projects.
“This multi-purpose shredder is not only a critical part of the CNMI’s long-term recovery from Super Typhoon Yutu: it’s also a valuable addition to the daily operations at the Marpi Landfill and will serve as a key asset in DPW’s emergency response to future typhoons and other disasters. We thank everyone who played a vital role in bringing this important piece of equipment to the Commonwealth,” said Elizabeth S. Balajadia, P.E., CNMI OPD Acting Director.
The procurement of this shredder was made possible through Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act (ASADRA) funding administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). OPD, DPW, and the other members of the CNMI Inter-Island Solid Waste Management Taskforce (ISWMT) express their gratitude to the U.S. EPA for their continued support and advocacy for the islands.
