28 May 2025, Apia - A monumental step taken by the Kingdom of Tonga to safeguard its communities from the dangers of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) has been highlighted as one the success stories in the collaboration between the SPREP-implemented PacWastePlus Project and Pacific countries.
The story is highlighted at the Exhibition Booths at Taumeasina Island Resort, on the margins of the inaugural Circularity, Innovation, Recovery, Culture, Learning, and Environment (CIRCLE) EXPO 2025 held in Samoa this week.
Tonga won the Best Country booth on Tuesday.
There are also booths from the 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, and Tuvalu, all showcasing activities and outcomes from SPREP-implemented waste management and pollution control projects.
The asbestos abatement activity in Tonga saw the PacWaste Plus work with the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), to remove and properly dispose approximately 2,622.79 m2 of non-friable asbestos from five government buildings. Three of the buildings have been re-roofed and remain in use by government officials. The other two buildings are derelict.
An Asbestos Management Code of Practice (AMCOP), guiding the safe handling and supervision of ACM within Tonga has been approved as part of the work.
Ms Sulieti Hufanga-Ofa, of Tonga’s MEIDECC, said the outcome of the asbestos activity highlights the value of projects such as PacWastePlus and the work of SPREP in the region.
“Here at the CIRCLE Expo, there are a lot of success stories, but I can say and I think the asbestos removal project is the highlight from this PacWastePlus project for us in Tonga because of the impact it has had on the protection of lives and our communities,” she said.
“The project activity focussed on removing asbestos containing materials from buildings. As you know, asbestos is a threat to our people and one of riskiest wastes in the Pacific, so this was one of the project activities successfully implemented in Tonga, from the removal of asbestos to its disposal to the training sessions and having a code of practice put in place.
“We are extremely grateful for the work done and it’s impact on saving lives and protecting our community against the harmful impacts of such waste.”
A popular attraction at the CIRCLE Expo, the Exhibition Booths highlight the work being done across the Pacific by to manage hazardous legacy waste. healthcare wastes, e-wastes, used oil, asbestos, liquid chemicals and other wastes.
“What we are showcasing in Tonga’s booth is all the project activities that have been implemented in Tonga. This features a range of waste management projects SPREP implements in Tonga including hazardous waste and disaster waste. We have a range of pictures from the work done, and information on how the landfill is operating in Tonga,” said Ms Ofa.
Asked about some of the lessons learnt from the work on the ground in Tonga, Ms Ofa said partnerships and collaboration is extremely important.
“It's very important we conduct the activities through the government, and strengthen the relationship with local businesses, private sector, public enterprises. It's very important that we work together with our partners, including the communities.”
Ms Ofa is among a strong delegation from Tonga who have been actively participating during the technical sessions and discussions at the CIRCLE Expo 2025. She said the CIRCLE is a great opportunity for networking and sharing challenges and solutions on our journey towards a Cleaner Pacific.
“I want to acknowledge SPREP and all the funding donors for hosting this circular Expo, 2025 because this is our opportunity to share our stories about what was successful, what was not successful and what are the lessons learned? This is very important and we are very fortunate to be part of it.”
And what would be a key takeaway from the CIRCLE Expo for Tonga?
“The Expo 2025 is not the end. We have to keep moving forward. We have to hold the hands of our brothers and sisters in the Pacific in battling all sorts of waste, especially hazardous waste and plastic waste, any waste. The main lesson learned here is that we have so much work to do and we have to network, learn from each other and just keep moving forward.”
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 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