Home > Programmes > International Waters Project

Marshall Islands

International Waters Project

Strengthening the Management of Solid Waste in the Marshall Islands

What is the International Waters Project?

The Marshall Islands International Waters Project is working with the community of Jenrok on Majuro Atoll to help find cost-effective ways to try and improve the management of waste throughout the country. The Marshall Islands IWP is managed by the Office of Environmental Planning and Policy (OEPPC) in collaboration with the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

What is the problem?

According to the Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (EPPSO), “solid waste is the greatest immediate environmental problem” facing Majuro Atoll.

Many in Jenrok lack access to even the most basic services

The current waste management infrastructure is inadequate and inefficient. Majuro does not have a modern sanitary landfill. The current dumpsites are located on the shoreline and much of this mixed (organic, hazardous, recyclable) waste is literally overflowing into the sea. This is posing a threat to both the marine environment and human health.

Poor waste management is impacting on health, reducing economic opportunities from activities such as tourism, recycling, and composting.

The IWP is collecting vital baseline information about the community to help the Government develop an integrated solid waste management system for the rest of Majuro Atoll.

The 2004 Socio-Economic Baseline Survey of Jenrok revealed a depressing picture of a densely populated community with nearly 2000 people crammed into a tiny area of less than half a square kilometre. Jenrok is home to high levels of unemployment and social problems, and a lack of access to basic services such as housing, electricity and water supply. The survey also very high incidence of sickness such as diarrhoea and typhoid.

The IWP waste stream analysis carried out for Jenrok in late 2004 found that this community of 1,814 people generates 1.06 lbs per person or 2 tons of rubbish per day.

The IWP waste stream analysis found that:

• 50% of the material (by weight) was green waste or organic matter.
• 20% is recyclable – aluminium, PET plastics, cardboard
• 16% is disposable diapers

If people in Jenrok composted and recycled all their current garbage and used cloth nappies it would reduce its waste by 86% - leaving only 14% needing to be collected and sent to landfill.

In Jenrok householders are encouraged to dispose all of their waste into three large 20 cubic yard “Red” skip bins located on the main road running. These bins are frequently overflowing with rubbish creating an unsightly and unhealthy environment with increased risks of attracting rats, flies and disease. Despite having bins located throughout Majuro Atoll many people continue to put their garbage in pits or throw it in the sea.

The community does not pay any direct fees for waste collection and disposal and there are no financial incentives for people to recycle, compost, or minimise the amount of rubbish they put in the red bins. There are no fees for people disposing “commercial” waste and all waste services are funded indirectly through taxes on government salaries.

Jenrok is collecting aluminium cans for recycling but the community needs a better system to encourage people to recycle, compost, stop littering and to safely dispose of hazardous waste such as batteries.

What is the solution?

Solid Waste Task Force

Cabinet recognized the need to coordinate solid waste management issues and on December 20, 2004 Cabinet approved the formation of the Solid Waste Task Force (SWTF). The core purpose of the task force is to provide Cabinet with recommendations on how to improve the solid waste problem in the Marshall Islands, especially on Majuro Atoll.

Marshall Islands Solid Waste Management Authority

In early 2004 a bill was introduced in the Nitijela (parliament) to create the Marshall Islands Solid Waste Management Authority (MISWMA). This new authority would assume responsibility and accountability for managing waste in Majuro. The passage of the bill was postponed but it is expected to be reintroduced again in 2005 with some minor revisions.

A Centralised Recycling & Composting Facility for Jenrok

The Jenrok Waste Stream Analysis recommended that a feasibility study be undertaken to determine if Jenrok could establish a centralised recycling and composting facility. A business plan needs to be developed to detail the capital cost required to establish the facility, a market analysis to identify the buyers of recyclable materials, and an operations plan to outline appropriate procedures for the project. This business plan will also help to inform the Solid Waste Task Force on the national viability of recycling, composting and diverting hazardous waste from disposal to landfill.

PROJECT CONTACTS