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Vanuatu, like many of its Pacific island neighbours, is undergoing a period of social and economic development. This development leads to an increasingly affluent society, which also leads to increase in waste generation. If left unchecked, Vanuatu will not be able to keep up with waste generation and disposal, and any positive changes that have been made so far, will be overshadowed by the ill-effects of poor waste management. It is in this context, that a coherent waste management strategy must be formulated to ensure that Vanuatu’s environment and public health are not adversely affected by the ongoing economic development.

Effective solid waste management has been a major concern for Solomon Islands for a very long time and a number of attempts have been made to develop a National Solid Waste Management Strategy for the country. The concerns about waste have been raised by various stakeholders and community members in the city and the wider provinces. The generation and disposal of wastes has direct and indirect linkages to human welfare and economic development. For instance, potential for contamination of food supplies can have impacts on local markets or revenue from export crops. Moreover, there are numerous health and environmental hazards that arise when wastes are poorly managed and disposed.