Context
The Pacific Island Countries (PIC) are facing considerable challenges caused by large quantities of plastic waste, which originates primarily from households, tourism and fishing. Many countries are dependent on imported products, in particular plastic materials. Effective systems for waste separation, collection and recycling are lacking, particularly in rural regions and on remote islands. Many people incinerate the waste or dispose of it in nature.
While some countries, such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, have introduced laws and strategies to reduce single-use plastics, they are unable to implement them sufficiently. Plastic pollution is detrimental to the ecosystem, biodiversity and people’s livelihoods.
Objective
In the Pacific Island Countries of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Marshall Islands, pollution caused by plastic waste is reduced, and solutions for tackling plastic waste sustainably are established.
Approach
The project operates in the following fields of action:
- It advises governments on implementing their laws on single-use plastics and producer responsibility.
- It organises regional exchanges on strategies to combat marine litter.
- It advises companies on how they can introduce plastic-free alternatives and develop long-term solutions.
- It improves waste collection and recycling by helping authorities and recycling companies to leverage the regional Moana-Taka mechanism. This enables companies’ empty shipping containers to be used to transport recyclable waste to waste processing facilities.
- It conducts awareness-raising campaigns in schools and communities.
- It promotes waste inspections and technologies that help identify and monitor sources of waste.
This integrative approach combines political, economic and societal measures for reducing plastic waste over the long term.
Last update: April 2025