As the green waste disposal site at Ypao Point in Tamuning entered its second day of operations, Guam Environmental Protection Agency officials said pesticides had been applied to help prevent the spread of Little Fire Ants, an invasive species that could be transported in green waste from villages across the island.
Derien Mitchell, Guam EPA's green process program manager, said the agency is taking precautions to reduce the risk of inadvertently introducing the ants to the site.
The Little Fire Ant, or LFA, can be found “all around” Guam, according to the official StopLFA website. The invasive species was first detected on the island in 2011 at a green waste processing facility in northern Guam, the website states.
Mitchell said the potential spread of the ants through green waste brought to Ypao Point is a concern.
Mitchell could not recall the name of the pesticide used at Ypao Point. The StopLFA website identifies Tango, an insect growth regulator containing the active ingredient S-methoprene, as one of the treatments used to control Little Fire Ants. It was not confirmed whether that product was used at the Ypao Point site.
Speaking with Guam News Network on the site's first day of operations, Mitchell said about 50 vehicles had dropped off green waste within a matter of hours. As of the interview, the site had accepted 195 cubic yards of green waste, he said.
There is no charge to drop off green waste at Ypao Point. However, Mitchell reminded residents that only designated green waste is accepted.
“Just make sure you have green waste. If you have other waste, again, we do not accept that,” Mitchell said. “If you bring it with you, we will ask you to remove it and take it back with you.”
Residents who need information on disposing of other types of waste can consult Guam EPA's website or ask agency staff for guidance, Mitchell said.
Accepted materials include trees, shrubs, branches, trunks, yard trimmings, grass clippings and leaves.
Unacceptable items found in a load will be identified at intake and must be removed by the person dropping off the waste.
“If it's not green waste, we'll identify that at the intake. If you bring it in, you must bring that out with you. You cannot leave anything here other than the designated green waste,” Mitchell said.
Monitors are stationed at different points throughout the site to oversee disposal and ensure residents follow the rules.
“At each pile, we have monitors, so they are monitoring everyone that comes in as they stage and discard their items,” Mitchell said. He reminded residents to take any trash bags or other containers with them when leaving the site.
“The only thing that stays is going to be the green waste,” he said.
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