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Vanuatu was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

Palau was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

The Solomon Islands was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

Tonga was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

Kiribati was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

Marshall Islands was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

Nauru was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

Niue was a participant in Phase I of this work. A comprehensive report of this Phase I work was prepared and circulated, and significant quantities of hazardous wastes were identified in the countries visited, including estimated figures of 130 tonnes of PCB liquids and 60 tonnes of pesticides (although only about 3 tonnes of POPs pesticides). Many other hazardous wastes were also identified as well. In addition, quite a large number of contaminated sites were discovered, including six locations of buried pesticides. On the basis of this report, it was decided to proceed to the Phase II of the project, which involved the preparation of a more detailed inventory, and then collecting, transporting and disposing of the wastes, to a suitable Australian facility.

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) several years ago identified the mismanagement of hazardous chemicals in the Pacific Island Countries as a serious environmental concern, and hence the Persistent Organic Pollutants in Pacific Island Countries (POPs in PICs) project was developed as an AusAID funded initiative, to be earned out by SPREP. POPs are a group of twelve particularly hazardous chemicals that have been singled out by the recent Stockholm Convention for urgent action to eliminate them from the world. They include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are mainly found in transformers, and several pesticides that are very persistent and toxic to the environment.

The Pacific Islands region served by SPREP covers 32 million sq km and is situated in the middle of the largest continuous marine habitat on the planet, the Pacific Ocean. The SPREP region is home to a diverse range of large marine fauna including cetaceans, sirenians and marine turtles. Over half the world’s known species of cetaceans are found in the region. The area also supports the world’s largest remaining populations of dugongs, green, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles.