Tuvalu PacWaste Plus Project

The Tuvalu project is focused on delivering waste management improvements for Outer Islands,  the development of a Strategic Plan for asbestos management, and the Expansion of the Tuvalu Waste Levy to enable outer islands to gain benefit from this sustainable finance waste management system.

Project Description

Situation in 2018

Asbestos:
The 2015 PacWaste Asbestos Assessment completed an analysis of buildings on the capital islands of Funafuti and an estimated 18% of buildings contain Asbestos. Tuvalu currently does not know the location of the Asbestos on eight outer islands.

Recycling:
Funafuti has been operating a “Waste Levy” (Advance Recovery Fee and Deposit) since August 2019. Currently, the items included in the Waste Levy are aluminium cans, PET plastic bottles, glass bottles, and car batteries. This scheme is running successfully. Currently, the outer islands do not have facilities to be involved in this system, so all items are going to the island dumps (currently making up >20% of waste in the dumps).

What was the Tuvalu Project About?

The development of a Strategic Plan for asbestos management and through the following actions:

• Develop national legislation to ban the importation/use of Asbestos Containing Materials in Tuvalu
• Inspect buildings on all islands to identify the quantity/location of Asbestos and using results, provide a plan for its long-term management
• Provide education and awareness on living safely with Asbestos in the short-term

Expansion of the Tuvalu Waste Levy and through the following actions.

Assist build small Waste Levy sheds “depots” on each island so all our communities can:

• claim their Waste Levy refunds (social/economic benefits)
• have a cleaner environment (environmental benefits)
• have equal access to waste facilities so recyclable items can be transported back to Funafuti (and onwards) for recycling

Future Situation

Tuvalu to have no more asbestos arriving into the country and an understanding of location and quantity of Asbestos in the outer islands to enhance long-term management, and have all communities provided facilities to participate in the Waste Levy, receiving the financial and environmental benefits.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• All islands have facilities, equipment, and legislation to enable participation in the Waste Levy
• Understand the presence of asbestos and develop a strategic plan, including strengthened legislation to ban its importation
• Outer island communities living safely with asbestos and participating in the Tuvalu Waste Levy

Key Outcomes from Project Implementation

Key Outcomes & Impacts

Expanded the national waste management legislation and recycling infrastructure to outer islands, enabling equitable access and participation in a sustainable financing system for recovering beverage containers, e-waste, and batteries, reducing reliance on dumpsites and improving environmental outcomes.

A field-based asbestos diagnostic tool, coupled with the development of a national asbestos assessment, strengthened Tuvalu’s ability to determine presence of asbestos, development of a draft national management plan, and the development and implementation of legislative instruments related to asbestos management. Capacity was built in the Customs Department to ensure long-term public and environmental safety through stopping the importation of asbestos.

Key Project Achievements

• 9 New Waste and pollutant management Legal instruments 
  drafted (Asbestos Ban Regulation, Asbestos Code of Practice, 7x Island By-laws)
• 7 new facilities collecting/processing recyclables from Tuvalu’s outer islands
• 1 upgraded recycling facility processing an estimated 544m3 per year enabling access to overseas recycling markets
• 16 training courses delivered increasing capacity of Tuvalu to safely manage asbestos, healthcare waste, organics, depot operation, data collection and GIS, and equipment operation and maintenance
• 139m  recyclable materials estimated to be diverted from dumpsite per year due to islands depots (based on Tuvalu Waste Audit)

Supporting Documents

The following table provides a complete list of all documents developed during the project, including technical guidelines, training materials, reports, and communication resources. Where possible, links to the documents hosted on the SPREP website have been included to enable direct access.