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Waste received at the main Bouffa landfill in Vanuatu 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. Vanuatu has had limited success implementing long-term solutions for recovery of recyclable items, due to lack of financing, infrastructure, technical expertise, and formal waste collection services. The Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DEPC) views a Sustainable Financing system (known as a Product Stewardship Scheme (PSS)) as a solution to enable the collection and management of recyclable items. The DEPC, with the support of Donors and a Working Group of interested parties, has been developing the PSS since 2017. The DEPC seek for PacWastePlus to support the completion of additional components of this pathway – with the goal of implementing the PSS.

Vanuatu is an island group located in the Melanesia region in the South Pacific, comprising of 65 inhabited islands (83 in total) over six provinces, with a total land area of 12,189 km2 . Its exclusive economic zone covers an oceanic area of approximately 680,000 km2 .

Following a request from the Vanuatu Government to provide support for waste clean-ups following Tropical Cyclone Harold which made landfall in Vanuatu in April 2020, the PacWastePlus Programme, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DEPC), and other donor funded waste projects, implemented support activities to nine communities on the islands of Santo, Pentecost, Aore and Malo. The project was deployed in September 2020 following extensive consultation to confirm the specific support requirements. The project was managed by staff from PacWastePlus (Regional Officer based in Vanuatu), an extension officer for DEPC and support from the Luganville Municipal Council (LMC).

Presentation by Vanuatu to the steering committee