30 May 2025, Apia - After five days of peer-to-peer learning and highlighting solutions, challenges and the achievements of 16 Pacific countries, territories and Timor Leste in the work to address waste management and pollution control, the inaugural Circularity, Innovation, Recovery, Culture, Learning, and Environment (CIRCLE) Expo 2025 in Samoa has closed.
Delegations from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Tuvalu will be returning home with strengthened resolve to elevate their national response to the triple planetary crises, and the protection of the Blue Pacific.
A multidisciplinary event to address issues of recyclable materials, organic materials, asbestos management, healthcare waste management, e-waste management, used oil management, bulky waste, and disaster waste, the CIRCLE Expo 2025 was organised and facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Aside from countries highlighting their work, the CIRCLE Expo 2025 also showcased activities and outcomes from SPREP-implemented projects such the European Union (EU)-funded PacWastePlus Programme, the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) project, GEF ISLANDS Project and JPRISM III.
SPREP’s Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control, Mr Anthony Talouli thanked all the delegates for their input and energy over five days of interactive learning, culminating in sessions to drive the Regional strategic agenda of Waste Management and Pollution Control.
“We have laughed, learned, negotiated, debated, but most of all we have grown,” said Mr Talouli. “We have grown our capacities, we have grown our knowledge, we have grown our commitments, and we have grown our resolve to continue to improve and strengthen our response to the triple planetary crisis, and our protection of the Blue Pacific.”
The CIRCLE Expo 2025 precedes the closure of the PacWastePlus Programme, and Stage 1 of the PAWES Project, and the current Phase of PacPlan, but will also bring to life the next iteration of the CleanerPacific Waste Management and Pollution Strategy.
“The discussions this week have also provided critical input for the Cleaner Pacific 2030 Regional Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy and we want to ensure it reflects your needs, your ambitions, and your aspirations,” said Mr Talouli.
“This is just the first of several opportunities to input and guide the development of the Strategy and we look forward to more fruitful engagements with you all, and your colleagues back home.”
Amongst highlights from the week included the excitement around systemic change, culminating in the Behaviour Change and Pacific Women of Circular Economy sessions.
Eleven technical sessions, three forums exploring issues of technologies, gender and the resource management industry featured more than 60 speakers from 16 countries and territories, industry, tertiary institutes, community representatives, and students from universities and Vaiala Beach School in Samoa.
Delegates also visited the Tafa’igata Landfill run by Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and took part in the world premiere of the “Voices of the Pacific” film at Apollo Cinemas.
“I am heartened by what I have seen and heard this week about your work both here at the EXPO, and back home, where you are effecting meaningful change,” Mr Taoluli said. “Colleagues, delegates, friends – thank you, congratulations and we wish you all a safe return home!”
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 American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Tuvalu. 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 contact: bradleyn@sprep.org