2 May 2025, Apia – The impact of waste and pollution on sustainable development in the Pacific is taking its toll on the health of communities. It continues to degrade our natural ecosystems, threaten food security and adversely impact social and economic development.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) works with all our member countries, partners, donors and individuals to address all types of waste challenges through real, practical, creative and innovative solutions.
One of the creative ways it is doing this is through the European Union-funded Pacific Waste Management Programme (PacWastePlus) connecting and spreading the waste management message in Vanuatu through the use of theatre and song.
A unique method, PacWastePlus has been working with the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation and local theatre group, Wan Smolbag, to develop engaging performances, using theatre, song, video, and radio to highlight and elevate the importance of waste management and recycling.
By blending entertainment with education, the theatre shows and catchy songs like "no sakem toti olbaot, no sakem toti olbaot!" (don’t litter, don’t litter) have sparked meaningful conversations in post-show surveys about waste management and recycling —empowering residents to understand and take action to help reduce pollution in their communities.
This innovative approach has captured the attention of audiences and created lasting impressions on how they view and manage waste in their daily lives. The group has done 18 shows so far, reaching hundreds of people from Efate, Santo, and Pentecost provinces. This number is expected to increase as the tour continues.
PacWastePlus exists to generate improved economic, social, health, and environmental benefits by enhancing existing activities and building capacity and sustainability into waste management practices.
One of the innovative and practical ways is to build the capacity of Pacific communities.
The development of the Pacific Certificate IV in Waste Management, aimed to provide an opportunity for workers in the Pacific waste sector to receive formal qualification in the field, is an example of this work.
The development of the formal qualification is a collaboration between PacWastePlus, SPC’s Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP), and representatives from governments and private industry.
The Industry and Advisory Committee (IAC) for the development a Pacific based qualification in Waste Management held their third meeting in April 2025, which focussed on the development of a Pacific Regional Standards for Waste management.
PacWastePlus Manager, Mr Bradley Nolan said the Standards is intended to guide improvements in waste management through safe waste management practices and infrastructure requirements to implement those practices.
“It is also intended to guide professional certification, and where applicable, remuneration increases and promotion due to this professional development,” he said.
Team Leader -Qualification for the EQAP Division of SPC, Mr Rajen Prasad, highlighted the need to involve industry organisations during the development and approval of qualifications.
“The engagement by the industry is essential to ensure that the qualification, through its learning outcomes reflect the skill set of occupations in the industry,” he said.
The Certificate Course was endorsed 1 May 2025 and SPC is now engaging with all tertiary institutions to ensure they access and offer the course materials.
The creative way such as the use of theatre and innovative approach through the development of a formal qualification to spread the waste management message will feature amongst the solutions to be highlighted during the inaugural Circularity, Innovation, Recovery, Culture, Learning, and Environment (CIRCLE) Expo 2025.
Organised and facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) over five days in Apia, the CIRCLE EXPO is a multidisciplinary event to address issue of recyclable materials, organic materials, asbestos management, healthcare waste management, e-waste management, used oil management, bulky waste, and Disaster Waste.
The week-long event to be held at the Taumeasina Island Resort from 26-30 May 2025 will launch a biennial event held alternately with the Clean Pacific Roundtable (CPRT), ensuring there is an annual opportunity for countries, industry, civil society, and tertiary institutions; to come together, discuss and explore issues of waste and pollution management in the Pacific.
The inaugural CIRCLE EXPO is funded by the European Union – Pacific Waste Management Programme (PacWastePlus), implemented by SPREP, with support from The Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), ACP MEA, Committing to Sustainable Actions in the Pacific (SWAP), GEF ISLANDS, and JPRISM III. Industry sponsorship was also provided by Tonkin+Taylor International, and the Greater Good.
The intent of the Expo is for stakeholders to showcase their actions and successes to build capacity throughout the region, and drive innovation and shared action to address waste management and pollution control.
Participation at CIRCLE EXPO is open to all.
The Circularity, Innovation, Recovery, Culture, Learning, and Environment EXPO 2025 also known as the CIRCLE EXPO 2025 is held in Apia, Samoa from 26 to 30 May. It will showcase activities and outcomes from across our Pacific Islands achieved through the support of the Pacific – European Union (EU) PacWastePlus Programme, Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) project, GEF ISLANDS Project and JPRISM III.
The CIRCLE EXPO 2025 is attended by the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. It is funded by the Pacific – European Union (EU) Waste Management Programme, PacWastePlus, POLP, the Programme for Capacity Building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP MEA Phase 3), and SWAP.
For further information please click here or please contact: bradleyn@sprep.org