Country Project
Solomon Islands
IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIC AND RECYCLABLES IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIC AND RECYCLABLES IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
Solomon Island’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology is utilising PacWastePlus investment to introduce new systems that improve the management of organic waste and recyclables.


Project Description
Current Situation
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 is the Solomon Islands Project About?
The project will introduce an organic processing programme in Honiara Market, construct an organic processing facility, establish a marketing strategy. Project Activities include:
• Design and implementation of an organic processing programme in Gizo that will collect and compost all organic waste generated at the Gizo Central Market.
• Introduce an Advance Recovery Fee & Deposit system and legislation in the Solomon Islands to improve the recycling rate in the country.
• Establish 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.
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Factsheet
Asbestos Management Brief: SOLOMON ISLANDS
The PacWastePlus Regional Asbestos Project will support countries in executing solutions, both legislative and policy-driven, to prevent exposure to asbestos fibre, and thereby reduce asbestos-related diseases. This document provides guidance for Solomon Islands to progress work on the development and implementation of a National ACM ban with this resource providing background information, identifying policy and legislative options available.

Factsheet
Solomon Islands Project Profile – Improving Solid Waste Management: Diversion of Organic and Recyclables from landfills
The predominant waste management solution offered in the Solomon Islands is landfilling, and recent audits suggest over half of all the waste to landfill is organic in nature and able to be composted rather than landfilled. A large amount of the remaining materials are recyclable - meaning the design and implementation of diversion projects could significantly reduce the amount of waste to landfills. As such, the Solomon Islands Government seeks to focus the PacWastePlus investment to design and implement an organic processing system to manage organic waste and will commence this work through the collection and processing of all organic wastes generated at the Gizo Market. In addition, the investment will be used to design and implement a sustainable financing system (Advance Recovery Fee and Deposit-ARFD) that will fund the collection and processing of recyclables. The introduction of these waste management systems has the potential to reduce the requirement for landfill space and therefore a substantial cost to the government and councils.

Factsheet
PacWastePlus Project Snapshot – Solomon Islands
Waste management is a challenge for the Solomon Islands, primarily due to the geographic dispersal of the population. Waste collection services are currently limited to accessible areas within Honiara and in a few provincial centres6. Urban area waste collection services less than 45% of household waste generated. In rural areas, rubbish collection services are poor, ad hoc, or completely absent. As a result, all waste generated in rural areas is managed through burning, burying, and dumping -either on land or in nearby waterways.
File Size: 1.82MB, 5 pages PDF document
Frequently Asked Questions
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- By 2023 have e strong and sustainable legislative environment in Solomon Islands that provides for the effective diversion of organic and recyclable wastes from landfill.
- By 2023, have an effective resource recovery programme operating in Solomon Islands with efficient infrastructure support and an active, engaged partnership between government and the private sector to divert organic and recyclable waste from landfills.
- By 2023 have an informed and engaged community with an increased understanding of the importance of waste management and knowledge of how to appropriately manage organic and recyclable wastes.
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- 63% of Solomon Islands waste stream are made up of organic waste while recyclables make up an estimated 30%.
- These items are either landfilled, burnt, or dumped into the environment in the Solomon Islands
- Landfilling organic wastes and recyclables take up critical landfill airspace, generates methane gas, and leachates.
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- Organic and recyclable waste recovery and processing industry becomes self-sufficient and is strengthened through private partnerships and government import standards.
- All Organic waste generated at produce markets on Guadalcanal is diverted from landfill in 2025
- Recyclables are captured effectively through the ARFD system by 2025.