Solomon Islands PacWastePlus Project

Solomon Island’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology sought to introduce new systems that improve the management of organic waste and recyclables.

Project Description

Situation in 2018

Without viable options for the recovery of organic wastes and recyclables, these items are either landfilled, burnt, or dumped into the environment in the Solomon Islands. As a result of current management arrangements, critical landfill space is fast running out while methane and leachates are generated following the decomposition of organic matter in an anaerobic environment.

What was the Solomon Islands' Project About?

The project introduced an organic processing programme in Honiara Market, construct an organic processing facility, establish a marketing strategy. Project Activities include:

• Designed and implementation of an organic processing programme in Gizo that will collect and compost all organic waste generated at the Gizo Central Market.
• Introduced an Advance Recovery Fee & Deposit system and legislation in the Solomon Islands to improve the recycling rate in the country.
• Established a recyclable collection centre in Gizo.

Future Situation

Solomon Island’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology seeks to have an effective and self-funding solution for the collection and processing of organic waste and recyclables.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1.  Implement  a National Product Stewardship Scheme
2.  Implement an effective organic recovery programme in Gizo. 
3.  Build capacity through development and provision of resources and training materials.

Key Outcomes from Project Implementation

Key Outcomes & Impacts

The strengthening of partnerships and the introduction of critical waste management infrastructure have played a pivotal role in supporting informed decision-making for sustainable financing and enhancing the effective diversion of materials from landfill. By building the capacity of the Western Provincial Government, significant strides have been made in advancing sustainable waste practices at the provincial level.

Targeted assistance was provided to the Western Provincial Government to manage both recyclables and organics with consolidation of materials for either shipment to Honiara (recyclables) or local composting (organics). This initiative has not only improved material recovery rates but also fostered collaboration between local and national stakeholders, reinforcing a circular economy approach.

To ensure the long-term success and sustainability of this initiative, capacity-building activities were conducted for local government officers and market vendors in Gizo. Training focused on composting techniques, waste segregation, and the benefits of organic waste management. As a result, both local authorities and community members are now equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to manage waste effectively and contribute to the reduction of landfill dependency.

Together, these interventions have contributed to more sustainable waste management outcomes by reducing environmental impacts, enhancing resource recovery, and laying a foundation for long- term financial sustainability. The strengthened institutional and community capacity, combined with the necessary infrastructure, have empowered the provincial government and local stakeholders to make more strategic, evidence-based decisions in waste diversion and resource allocation.

Key Project Achievements

• 1 Drafting Instruction for Product Stewardship Scheme Act  
• 1 Drafting Instruction for Container Deposit Regulation
• 3 new facilities constructed (Composting facility in Gizo, Recyclable Storage facility in Gizo, and Market facility built in Tuvaruhu, Honiara with supported infrastructure for support  circular economy practices)
• 1 Product Stewardship Division established creating 6 new government positions
• 1.7 tonnes of waste removed form the environment through the Renlau Clean Up Campaign
• 6  Private Sector representatives participated in the design of the Product Stewardship Scheme

Solomon Islands

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.