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Pacific regional waste composition

Waste management in SIDS, as in other developing countries, is a growing problem because of population growth, urbanisation, changing consumption patterns and the large numbers of tourists. Most of the waste collected is disposed of via sanitary landfilling, as opposed to recycling. This form of disposal represents missed economic opportunities and creates future challenges for SIDS due to the limited availability of land, potential contamination of surrounding ecosystems and the contribution of decomposing garbage to the build-up of greenhouse gases. Even where limited recycling has been pursued, the absence of legal and regulatory provisions for recycling and the remoteness of markets and fluctuating prices limit the attractiveness and opportunities for private sector involvement. Despite the limited availability and reliability of waste generation data, it is estimated that solid waste generation rates in SIDS ranges from 0.75 -2.8kg/per capita with organics comprising close to 50% of the waste stream. Other identifiable components include plastics, paper, metal, textile and glass, all of which have the potential to be diverted and recycled. Given the small volumes of recyclables and limited opportunities for recycling as well as limited markets for recycled materials, much of that waste is disposed of via landfilling.

Year: 2013

From collection: SIDS-FOCUSED Green Economy: An Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities

Cartographer: GRID-Arendal

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