A colourful new poster, launched by the Pacific Hazardous Waste Management Project – PacWaste – highlights the important role that we all play in protecting the future of our islands.
PacWaste is a €7.85 million, four year project funded by the European Union and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to improve regional hazardous waste management across the Pacific.
Called 'Smart choices for a cleaner, safer Pacific' the poster promotes a range of simple actions that contribute to reduced waste and increased resilience.
Kosi Latu, Deputy Director General at SPREP explains that while PacWaste's main area of focus is on hazardous waste, a key aspect of sustainable waste management in general rests with behaviour change at an individual and community level:
"If we want to see entrenched hazardous waste management practices, an important starting point is to change our mindsets when we deal with any kind of waste – whether it is green waste in our gardens, household waste in our rubbish bins and even wasted energy from appliances and lights. Simple choices such as refusing plastic bags when we are shopping or letting nature recycle our garden waste by composting instead of burning, can make a huge difference to both human health and the health of the environment.
Jesús Laviña, Head of Section for Natural Resources and Infrastructure at the European Union Delegation for the Pacific, Suva said that the European Union is proud to support the initiative as part of its suite of activities related to the 2015 European Year for Development:
"Over the past 11 months we have been celebrating the ways in which European Union development support is making a real and lasting difference to people and communities in the Pacific. As 2015 comes to a close, it's timely to reflect on what actions we can all take in our homes, schools, workplaces, churches and villages to manifest a cleaner and safer Pacific for all."