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Mr. Uilou Samani, Director,

Tonga Environment Department.

In this special profile Uilou explains how the International Waters Project is helping to strengthen the management of waste in Tonga.

1. What do you most like to do for relaxation when you're not at work?

Stretch out in the garden (plantation) or socialise with friends in the ‘kava’ bowl.

2. On the work side of things can you briefly explain how the Tonga IWP is trying to help improve the management of solid and liquid waste in Tonga’s rural communities?

The Tonga IWP aims to improve management of both solid and liquid waste - particularly waste that pollutes and degrades the quality of our water system in Tonga.

The IWP is working to complement the work of the AusAID Solid Waste Management Project which is addressing the management, collection and disposal of solid waste.

This AusAid project has certainly come at the right time because the current dumpsite at Tukutonga (east of Nuku’alofa) has reached its maximum capacity and it has become a major eyesore and a cause of other environmental threats in the area.

The AusAid project is currently building a modern sanitary landfill that should be in operation at the end of this year. The Government of Tonga also has an agreement with the NZODA for the remediation of the current dumpsite.

The Tonga IWP has set up demonstration of household compost and organic farming system at Nukuhetulu village in an effort to really encourage people to sort waste generated at the household level. People are encouraged to use composted soils for their home garden – pot plants, flowering, and vegetable garden – rather than putting this valuable material in our new landfill.

A community plot of land has also been set up at Nukuhetulu to demonstrate the practice of organic farming system. It is aimed to show farmers simple techniques and also reviving traditional practices that helps to produce yields without using chemicals and pesticides.

The Tonga IWP is also planning to demonstrate a cost effective and culturally acceptable sanitation system that helps to reduce the impact of human and animal waste on our water system.

3. How is the work of the Tonga IWP helping to improve the management of waste at the national level?

Tonga IWP is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of all environmental related legislation and policies. This activity will help to identify weaknesses and recommend ways to strengthen management of waste at the national and village level through legislative reform.

The project is also undertaking an economic evaluation of waste is for the whole of Tongatapu. This assignment aims to find out the cost for the current management of waste and identify costs that could have been avoided, both at the national and household level if waste were managed properly.

The IWP is also working with the AusAID Solid Waste Management Project to identify how much each household is willing to pay for a proper collection to be put in place.

A series of four pollution monitoring surveys will be carried out between now and the end of the project in 2006 to find the level of nutrients and pollution presence in the water and lagoon area at Nukuhetulu village. This data will be vital in helping national level decision makers to recommend the most appropriate prevention measures.

4. How is the collection and disposal of waste currently managed in Tonga? Is there a lead agency that coordinates these services?

Traditionally collection and disposal of waste has been the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. However, the Government of Tonga and AusAID Solid Waste Management Project is currently constructing a new landfill, not far from Nukuhetulu village. Collection and disposal will then be transferred from the Ministry of Health to a newly established Waste Board which has already been endorsed by Cabinet.

5. Does Tonga have any targets for waste reduction, recycling, or composting?

Tonga IWP is targeting at least 20% reduction in improper dumping of waste onto the mangrove and lagoon at Nukuhetulu village. At the same time the project aims to have at least 80% of all households composting their greenwaste by the end of the project in December 2006. I am sure the lessons learned from Tonga IWP and the Solid Waste Management Project can both contribute towards setting up realistic targets for waste reduction in Tonga.

6. Does Tonga have legislation that deals directly with waste management?

The main body of legislation that deals directly with almost all forms of waste is the Public Health Act 1992. The waste management provisions of this Act apply only to the towns, villages and areas determined by the Minister and published in the Gazette (section 90). However, some of the Minister of Health’s authority includes: arrangement for collection, transport and disposal (section 91), cleaning and efficient functioning of latrines and receptacles for sewage (section 92), storage and collection of garbage including fees (section 93), toxic and hazardous waste (section 98).

Other applicable laws: The Harbours Act (Cap 137) makes it an offence to deposit rubbish in harbours. The Parks and Reserve Act (Cap 89) makes it an offence to deposit rubbish in declared parks and reserve. The Birds and Fish Preservation Act (Cap 125) makes it an offence to discharge noxious liquids and substances in protected areas.

7. How is the enforcement of fines for littering, burning and illegal dumping administered and applied? Which government agencies are used to carry out these enforcement activities?

The Public Health Officer, under the Public Health Act 1992 (Section 93), is authorized to enforce a fine of TOP$50.00 for those who are not looking after their garbage, littering in public places, littering in vacant land or illegal dumping.

There is also a Draft Environment (Litter and Dumping of Wastes) Regulation, under the Environment Management Bill to be re-submitted to Parliament this year. This littering regulation authorises environment officers to enforce an anti-littering campaign. A much more severe punishment is imposed for breaking the rules – a TOP$100.00 fine littering in public and TOP$1000.00 for dumping of hazardous waste. These regulations were drafted with Singapore experience in mind.

However, with the recent direction from HM Cabinet to set up a Waste Authority, there will be some reshuffling in responsibilities relating to waste management.

8. What type of mechanisms does Tonga have in place to fund ongoing waste management operations?

Under the current waste operations the Ministry of Health collects, transfers, and disposes of rubbish and also maintains the rubbish dump. This service is available only to the people at the main town centres of Nuku’alofa (Tongatapu), Pangai (Ha’apai), Neiafu (Vava’u) and ‘Ohonua (‘Eua). A monthly collection fee of TOP$5.00 is imposed on those using the service but the whole operation is subsidized and funded by the government.

The Waste Authority will be operated as a private company which means they will provide funds for ongoing waste management operations. As I mentioned earlier the IWP is now working with the AusAID Solid Waste Management Project to identify how much each household is willing to pay for a proper collection to be put in place.

9. What is next for the Tonga IWP?

In Nukuhetulu the number of households participating in composting trial has recently increased from 10 to 38. The challenge will obviously be in finding ways to help to ensure that all communities in Tonga use their organic material for compost rather than dumping it in the landfill.

We are hopeful that the excellent work done by IWP at Nukuhetulu village will be seen as a model for what other villages can achieve.

The awareness programme on household compost at Nukuhetulu has already generated impacts outside Nukuhetulu village. This has been demonstrated by the large number of enquiries from other projects, women’s groups and individuals wanting to know more about the simple types of compost that we are demonstrating at Nukuhetulu.