News - Apr 6, 2024 Tuvaruhu Community Moves Forward on Behaviour Change Pilot Project to Improve Waste Management
The Tuvaruhu community in Honiara is enthusiastic about initiating a new behaviour change project to engage the community in properly managing recyclables and organic waste generated within the community.”
The pilot project will coordinate with the Honiara City Council (HCC) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDMM) to enhance waste collection services for the community.
Community leaders and members highlighted that through the implementation of proper waste management practices, they can actively contribute to environmental protection by reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. Due to their commitment to sustainability and conservation, the Tuvaruhu community eagerly anticipates a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations because of their dedicated efforts.
Staff from the European Union-funded PacWastePlus Programme, implemented through SPREP, with consultants from ThinkPlace, conducted a week-long engagement programme. They coordinated with the MECDMM and community leaders to enhance understanding of the proposed pilot project and gain community support for its implementation.
The team held meetings with various stakeholders, including the HCC, to understand the specific challenges faced by the council in providing timely solid waste collection services to the Tuvaruhu community. These discussions aimed to identify solutions to prevent waste from being improperly disposed of in rivers and community areas, where it is often incinerated.
The programme engaged community members in testing different interventions to evaluate their effectiveness, improve delivery methods, and set criteria for measuring impact and potential adoption in the community. The selected intervention for implementation will be evaluated for its long-term effects on the targeted behaviours.
This pilot project aims to reduce waste disposal and dumping in the Tuvaruhu community while promoting proper sorting, recycling, upcycling, and composting to provide community members with opportunities for responsible waste disposal and value creation.
The Solomon Islands community pilot project will join with communities in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, where the outcomes of the pilot projects will assist communities and governments throughout the Pacific to replicate the actions and extend the benefits beyond the pilot communities.
The project will also focus on educating community members about the importance of sustainable waste management practices and the environmental benefits of reducing waste. By empowering individuals to take responsibility for their waste and providing them with the knowledge and resources to do so, the project aims to create a lasting impact on the Tuvaruhu community and inspire similar initiatives in other communities across the Pacific region.
Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, the pilot project seeks to create a network of environmentally conscious communities working towards a cleaner and more sustainable future for the Pacific.
Community Engagement Photo Album