Vanuatu PacWastePlus Project

The Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation seeks to utilise PacWastePlus support (in combination with J-PRISM II) to develop and implement a suitable Sustainable Financing system (Product Stewardship Scheme) to facilitate collection and recycling of recoverable items and divert them from landfill and stopping environmental pollution.

Project Description

Situation in 2018

Waste received at the main Bouffa landfill is comprised of up to 35% beverage containers products (aluminium, PET, glass). Beverage containers are also commonly seen as litter and in informal stockpiles or burnt by communities in pits.

What was the Vanuatu Project About?

Vanuatu has been working towards a Product Stewardship Scheme since 2017 through support from other donors. The DEPC seek for PacWastePlus, in partnership with other donors such as J-PRISM II and GEF ISLANDS, to support select components of this pathway:

• Complete effective national community consultation on the draft legislation (including the development of innovative consultation materials – such as the use of local theatre/comedy groups)
• Develop documents/resources to guide the effective operation of the Product Stewardship Scheme
• Host legacy waste buy-back events
• Develop long-term communications plan to ensure all stakeholders understand and are participating in the PSS

Future Situation

Vanuatu seeks to have the Sustainable Financing scheme operating effectively achieving environmental, economic, and social benefits:

• Community handing in recyclable items and receiving their deposits back as a reward; resulting in the diversion of waste from landfill, and reduction
  in litter and burning which will have positive benefits on biodiversity, the terrestrial and marine environment, and air quality
• Operation of a safe and sustainable system for the recovery, recycling, and export of recoverable items, without reliance on government funds
• Vulnerable groups and individuals in the community collecting recyclable items and using deposits to supplement their income

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Legislative environment for the long-term operation of the Product Stewardship Scheme
• Increase the capacity to safely and efficiently manage waste produced from disaster  events
• Households and communities understanding the benefits and participating in of improved waste management

Key Outcomes from Project Implementation

Key Outcomes & Impacts

Strengthened government capacity to develop Vanuatu’s concept for a Product Stewardship Scheme through stakeholder engagement, planning, economic modelling, and legislative drafting. Supported asbestos risk management by contributing to the development of the National Hazardous Waste Bill, integrating asbestos controls into the building code, and developing an Asbestos Management Code of Practice. In response to disasters in 2019 and 2024, enhanced national disaster waste management response, and built community capacity through, clean-up, and community planning and training; improving resilience to future disasters.

Key Project Achievements

• 5 New Waste and pollutant management Legal instruments drafted or adopted (Asbestos in Building Code (adopted), PSS Bill and CDL Regulation (drafted), Asbestos Management Code of Practice (drafted), Hazardous Waste Bill (drafted))
• 239m³ of Disaster Waste collected (for recycling and disposal) after TC Harlod
• 9 Disaster Waste community Plans developed
• 1 business and 2 jobs crated in response to the Behaviour Change Pilot Project
• 40 communities reached and 2,629 people participated in theatre group consultation 

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.