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Since 2000, J-PRISM has been developing human resources and reinforcing administrative systems for solid waste management in the island states of the Pacific region.

Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM), the 5-year, regional project implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) officially commenced in February 2011 with the arrival of the Chief Advisor Mr. Shiro Amano at the Project Office based in the SPREP Office Apia, Samoa. The first issue of “J-PRISM FLASH” provides an introduction of the J-PRISM and an update of the project activity in 2011.

Presentation on creating awareness on recycling

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that can travel long distances through air and water, and accumulate in the fatty tissues of humans and other animals. These POPs do not degrade quickly over time, and consequently, potentially expose people to serious health issues including cancer, birth defects and immune system impairments. As a result of anthropogenic releases of POPs to the environment since the 1940s, POPs are now widely distributed over large regions, including the Pacific Island

Marine litter is a global concern affecting all the oceans of the world. It poses environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems that are rooted in poor solid waste management practices, lack of infrastructure, indiscriminate human activities and behaviours and an inadequate understanding on the part of the public of the potential consequences of their actions. The UNEP Global Initiative on Marine Litter has provided an effective framework for conducting regional activities addressing marine litter around the world, including those of the 12 participating Regional Seas programmes.

Many Pacific Island Countries collect aluminium cans for recycling. Some of these countries include: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The operations through most of the countries are conducted by private businesses, indicating that recycling of aluminium cans is profitable, making it a relatively easy recyclable commodity. Aluminium is used in many every day products including beverage cans, window frames, cars, cooking utensils and roofing materials. Aluminium recycling is both economically and environmentally effective, as it requires a lot less energy to recycle than it does to mine, extract and smelt aluminium ore. Aluminium exposed to fires at dumps can release poisonous gases and cans dumped in the environment can harbour mosquito breeding. Refer section - Health and Environmental Impacts.