SPREP ran community-led activities, which included a clean-up of the Mulivai and Vaisigano rivers, community beach clean-ups, provision of trash stands and a waste craft training for women's groups.
Members of the Fugalei SISDAC Women's committee, the Tuaefu women's committee, the Pan-Pacific South East Asia Women's Association (PPSEAWA), and Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI) had the opportunity to attend workshops on waste-craft - refashioning rubbish into beautiful and sought-after consumer items. In other Pacific island countries such as Fiji, the practice has proven to be a huge success - not just in terms of raising awareness of sound waste management practices but also in providing income to many communities from the sale of items created from the waste materials.
A temporary boom has been placed across the mouth of Apia's Vaisigano River. This boom, together three others to be installed at Apia's major rivers, will help prevent litter and debris from entering Apia harbour and the marina during the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (UNSIDS) and beyond. The boom is 120m long and has a buoyant top with a net suspended below into the water. River water is able to pass through the netting whilst capturing the rubbish. MNRE, with the support of the local community, will look after the booms to ensure they it is effectively used. As a result, communities are taking charge of dealing with the waste problem.
Read the SPREP article about the waste-craft workshop
Read the SPREP article about the installation of the litter booms
