by Marissa Borja, KUAM News Thursday, December 15, 2005 E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

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Nobody wants a dump in his or her backyard, so why is one mayor allowing it in his? "My question is would [the Environmental Protection Agency] and this government and the people of Guam rather see it like this, strewn all over with aluminum cans that can be recycled - or would you rather see a mayor, not just me, but the other mayors take those and put it in an area where it's neatly separated?" questioned Pedro Paulino.

The area the Talofofo mayor is referring to is Benavente Street. Over the years it has become a site where residents dispose of all types of trash, despite signs that clearly indicate no dumping. Paulino explains that he's never been cited by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency for the illegal dumping there, but now that he has taken it upon himself to provide residents with a place to dispose of their white goods, metallic waste and garbage bags, he's being put on notice.

"The problem is the people of Guam don't have a place to go to and not be charged," he explained. "This once a year clean up thing, that's baloney. The reason why they haven't been cleaning this area is because no tourists pass here. It's like painting your house on the outside and leaving the inside a mess."

Exactly how has the mayor taken matters into his own hands? One look behind his office and you'll see piles of neatly stacked debris - from washing machines and air conditioners to sheet metal and trash bags - everything has its place. For the past year, Mayor Paulino has allowed residents to dispose of their waste on the property.

The problem is that he has no authority to do so.

"If EPA and this administration want to cite me, please do so because I respect that. But I tell you what, you find me a place to put this without having the taxpayer and the poor people of Talofofo to pay another dime for something that they've already been paying for."

Officials from the Guam EPA confirm that Paulino does not have a permit for the area and further state that he has been advised of the environmental violations the site is posing, however, he has yet to be issued an official notice of violation. In the meantime, the mayor contends that residents don't have the means to transport the debris and many can't afford the fees associated with having the waste removed.

"If this administration would get its act together and show me and the people of Talofofo and the people of Guam where to put this. Until then they can cite me all they want," he strongly stated. "I'm not above the law, but where do they expect me to put this?"

He adds that having the white goods stored on his property is also safer as many of them are rusted and pose as safety hazards for children. And while he's tried to have private recycling companies pick up the waste, Paulino says his office can't even afford to have them pick it up because it's too expensive.