STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Excess waste is a significant challenge for atoll countries like Tuvalu, considering their “extremely limited land mass”.
- The review report indicates that, despite challenges to implementation of Tuvalu’s Integrated Waste Policy and Action Plan 2017-2026, there is evidence of “significant progress” in several areas.
- The report notes that government enforcement of waste management-related legislation, regulations, and policies is “generally weak”.
The Government of Tuvalu has published the second annual review of the implementation status of the country’s Integrated Waste Policy and Action Plan 2017-2026. The 2019 Annual Review reports that despite implementation challenges, there is evidence of “significant progress” in several areas, including waste management.
The ‘Tuvalu Integrated Waste Policy and Action Plan 2017-2026’ is the main national policy framework to guide the management of waste in the country with the vision of having “A Cleaner and Healthier Tuvalu for today and future generations.”
The Policy and Action Plan acknowledges that its development is a “timely response to the significant changes happening in the waste sector in the Pacific Region and globally.” These changes include an increase in waste generated on the islands that has come about due to a proliferation of consumption of “more wasteful imported products,” according to the Plan. Excess waste presents a significant challenge, considering the “extremely limited land mass” of atoll countries such as Tuvalu.