10 April 2025, Apia Samoa - Excitement is growing as the countdown continues towards 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.
“We are pleased to be able to announce this event,” said SPREP’s Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control (WMPC), Mr Anthony Talouli.
“We are particularly excited about the potential it holds to bring together all relevant stakeholders to elevate the work everyone is doing to address issues of waste management and pollution control in our Pacific region.”
The CIRCLE Expo programme features an exciting line up of high profile keynote speakers during the opening session, technical sessions and interactive forums to address issues of waste-to-energy and emerging hazardous waste issues.
A first for the Pacific region, the forum for Women of Waste is shaping up to be a key forum to drive gender and inclusive action to address pollution.
Other key ticket items during the week include the world premiere of the “Voices of the Pacific” documentary showcasing the very real impact of plastic pollution on the lives and environment of Pacific Peoples, as well as the EXPO booth Centre, which will provide opportunities for countries and partners to showcase their actions and engage with peers to share knowledge and gain ideas for local implementation.
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.
“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, with this being the perfect event for PacWastePlus participating countries to report on the last six years of project implementation” PacWastePlus Manager, Mr Bradley Nolan.
“We have been working hard to ensure that this event is cemented into the Regional Waste Event Calendar, providing a valuable opportunity for waste practitioners to learn from each other regularly, enabling the biennial Clean Pacific Roundtable to focus on strategic issues on an alternate biennial schedule.
“We are looking forward to working with the participants to advance their knowledge of current and emerging issues facing waste management in the Pacific, we are also keen to hear from technical speakers who will provide expert insights into the potential for improving waste management, which is a massive challenge for our Pacific nations.”
Mr Nolan acknowledged the support of the European Union, noting the inaugural Expo will be an opportunity for countries to explore new funding opportunities for ongoing waste management and pollution control work, and to engage on the development of the next regional Waste Management & Pollution Control Strategy, the Clean Pacific 2035.
Participation at CIRCLE EXPO is open to all. Encouraged to attend are staff and managers from all levels of government, partner organisations, businesses, universities, research institutions, community networks, NGOs, and professional organisations involved in waste and resource management.
Registration is now open and closes on 17 April 2025.
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.
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