BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Solomon Islands Recycling Waste Management Association (SIRWMA) came into existence in 2019 with the intention of recycling solid wastes.
“Before that, in 2018, there was a discussion between the individuals, the NGOs, and the corporate houses to have one common goal, an objective, and that is to recycle solid waste,” said Lorraine Rini, SIRWMA Treasurer.
She said the corporate companies had the objectives to reduce their product waste to landfill, sober in particular, which was less than two percent to landfill.
“So, in 2019, the Solomon Islands Recycling Waste Management Association was officially launched,” said Ms Rini.
She said that on May 26, 2021, the association had an AGM supported and facilitated by the Minister of Environment, Conservation, Disaster Management and Meteorology through the support of Environment and Conservation, Honiara City Council (HCC), JPRISM, funded by JICA.
“When this was formulated, it was to promote recycling activities in Solomon Islands in partnership with the stakeholders. Also, we needed this in place to support the private sector, the recyclers,” she said.
Rini said that the recyclers play a very important role in the Solomon Islands, where a few have already been established, mainly to deal with plastics.
“There are ones that recycle plastic cans, aluminium cans, scrap metals, and also food waste. A sustainable and suitable system, incentives, and facilities that support the recycling businesses must be developed.
“In doing so, it will increase the recycled amounts domestically that can be exported internationally to be recycled,” she said.
She said that the SIRWMA acts as a medium between the stakeholders and the recyclers in the Solomon Islands.
“If you have an interest or share the same objective for recycling all the waste, not only in Honiara but also in the provinces, feel free to contact us,’’ appealed Rini.
The association’s Facebook page is called Solomon Islands Recycling Waste Management Association.
“Going forward, we’re looking forward to working with the Minister of Environment and Conservation, HCC, to align with the policies and the regulations and to drive the objectives and the goals that we have for the recyclers here in Solomon Islands.”
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