Recycling Centers in NORTHERN-MARIANA-ISLANDS
Find local recycling drop-off locations across NORTHERN-MARIANA-ISLANDS. Browse by city to see nearby facilities with hours and contact information.
Recycling in NORTHERN-MARIANA-ISLANDS
This directory lists 2 recycling centers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), both located in Saipan. The CNMI is a U.S. territory in the western Pacific comprising Saipan, Tinian, and Rota as its main inhabited islands. This is a very limited listing; residents should contact the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) or the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ) for a full picture of recycling options across the islands.
Solid waste and recycling in the CNMI are managed by the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which operates under BECQ, in coordination with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Office of Planning and Development (OPD). The Marpi landfill on Saipan is the territory's primary disposal site. In 2026, the U.S. EPA awarded over $32 million to the CNMI OPD to improve solid waste and recycling infrastructure territory-wide, including purchasing and repairing recycling equipment. A Comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (CISWMP) was finalized in 2025 and approved by EPA.
The CNMI does not currently have an enacted beverage-container deposit law. A Beverage Container Act was proposed by the legislature in 2023 (SCR 23-037) to establish a refundable deposit similar to Oregon's bottle bill, aimed at reducing litter on beaches and highways. A government-run cash-for-cans initiative — offering five cents per aluminum can at a drop-off center in Tanapag, Saipan — has operated as an informal buyback incentive. Residents can also drop recyclables (paper, glass, plastic, metals) at private recycling centers on the island.
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Recycling in NORTHERN-MARIANA-ISLANDS — FAQ
Who manages recycling and solid waste in the CNMI?
The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), part of the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ), is the primary environmental regulatory agency overseeing solid waste management in the CNMI. The Department of Public Works handles collection infrastructure, and the Office of Planning and Development coordinates major capital projects with EPA funding. The DEQ can be reached at 670-664-8500 in Saipan.
Does the CNMI have a bottle deposit law?
Not as of 2026. A Beverage Container Act was introduced in the CNMI Legislature in 2023 (SCR 23-037) to create a deposit-refund system on certain beverage containers, but it had not been enacted into law. A government aluminum-can buyback program offering five cents per can operates informally on Saipan.
What recycling infrastructure exists on Saipan?
Saipan has private recycling centers that accept materials including paper, glass, plastic, and metals. The Marpi landfill is the island's main solid waste disposal facility. A 2026 EPA grant of over $32 million is funding major improvements to CNMI-wide recycling and solid waste infrastructure, including new equipment and additional operating staff.