Programs

The Pacific Region Scrap Metal and Plastic Removal and Recycling Program (SCRAP)

The accumulation of scrap metal throughout the Pacific Islands is a major environmental problem. This program is designed to assist islands to sustainably process and remove scrap metal and plastic for recycling abroad.

Countries involved in scrap

Niue: In March 2005, 375 tonnes of scrap metal was processed on island and sent to Aukland for recycling.


Tahiti : In 2005, Tahiti successfully trialed the exportation to Auckland of the first consignment of its 2,500 annual tonnes of baled cars and continues with its program.

Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshal Islands : Scrap is providing training and institutional capacity assessment and building in the removal of scrap metal.

Easter Island : SCRAP has provided training, capacity building, equipment and organizational services for the removal of scrap metal.

International Help Fund Australia has provided consultancy services to most Pacific Islands on scrap metal processing and recycling. IHFA co-produced a "How to Process Scrap Metal on Your Island" instructional DVD as well as the film "Niue Scrap Metal Pilot" which were distributed to Waste Managements Departments of the Pacific in 2005 by the Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Program.

IHFA completed and distributed Pacific wide and instrucitonal video titled “How to Process Plastic on Your Island” in partnership with the French Development Agency, the Société Environnement Polynésienne and Air Tahiti Nui.

Click here to view films,

"How to Process Scrap Metal on Your Island"
"Niue Scrap Metal Pilot"
"How to Process Plastic on Your Islands"

 

SCRAP Partners: Agence Française de Development, Internationaler Hilfsfonds, Sims Pacific Metal, Sims Plastic, Sims Plastic, Reef Shipping, Freehills, Niue Ministry of Environment, La Société Environnement Polynésienne (Tahitian Waste Management Department), Municipality of Easter Island, Governors Office of Easter Island, LAN Airlines, Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Program, Pacific Island Regional Recycling Initiative Committee, Air Tahiti Nui, Governments of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshal Islands.

Pacific Island Plastic Shopping Bag Minimization Program

Plastic bags are a significant marine, terrestrial and waste management issue in the Pacific and Islanders feel a special need to protect the marine resources they so depend on. This program seeks to assist Islands to reduce their plastic shopping bag use with alternatives such as calico, paper, traditional bags as well as strong reusable recyclable plastic bags. The program is supported by educational, logistical and legislative services.

Countries Involved in the Program

Tuvalu

International Help Fund Australia and its partners assisted Tuvalu in minimizing the use plastic bags via funding, campaign design, public information brochures, 7,800 replacement calico bags, replacement paper bags and wrapping, assistance with sourcing replacements for continuity, negotiating free freight for replacement bags, physical support during the campaign, production of a video for national reinforcement and for promotion throughout the Pacific, and draft tax legislation to prohibit the bags.

IHFA has provided consultancy services to many Pacific Islands on Plastic Bag Minimisation.

Click here to view film "Tuvalu Plastic Shopping Bag Free Program"
Click here to view film "How to Process Plastic on Your Island"

Partners: Internationaler Hilfsfonds, the Ministry of Environment of Tuvalu, the Waste Management Department of Tuvalu, the Tuvaluan Cooperative Society, Reef Shipping. Freehills.

Waste Management Design

Waste management in general is a major issue in the Islands. Few of the islands have effective waste management systems and most islands have little space to dispose of wastes. International Help Fund Australia encourages regional cooperation to share experience and technical expertise which has the added benefit of keepings cost down.

Easter Island

In February 2005 International Help Fund Australia and its partners sought the competencies of the Tahitian Waste Management Department, the Société Environnement Polynésienne (SEP), to design a waste management program for its neighbor, Easter Island. The first step in this agreement was to deliver 9 containers for the storage of used recreational batteries, 6 containers for the use of used motor oil, and 3 containers for the storage of car batteries. IHFA co-produced 2 TV commercials in both Rapa Nui and Spanish for Rapa Nui TV as part of the public information campaign. Also produced were posters and brochures in both Rapa Nui and Spanish. To keep costs down, the information campaign was based on the Tahitian version adapted to specificities of Easter Island. On 2006, the Société Environnement Polynésienne (SEP), trained the Easter Island Waste Management Department. Significant Progress has been made since.

Partners
Internationaler Hilfsfonds, Société Environnement Polynésienne, the Municipality of Easter Island, LAN Airlines.

 

Click here to view film titled "Easter Island: Waste Management"
Click here to view “Easter Island, On the Road to Development"

Recycling

Pacific Islands are limited for space to dispose of wastes, therefore reprocessing and exportation of recyclables is a priority. International Help Fund Australia assists Islands with processing recyclables on Island and finding markets for them abroad. This includes sourcing appropriate technology and equipment.

Coming Soon: The IHFA Directory of Recyclable Materials and Recyclers in the Asia Pacific Region

Water Sanitation

Easter Island

95% of the toilets in Easter Island are pit latrines. 40.000 tourists a year visit the Island of 3,900 permanent residents, yet the Island currently has no water sanitation and its drinking water sources are in imminent danger of contamination. International Help Fund Australia is providing the UNESCO listed World Heritage National Parks with Australian designed Rotaloo composting toilets and is also trialing the domestic model.

Click here to view video “Water Sanitation and Supply: Composting Toilets in Easter Island”

Click here to view video "LAN Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui Deliver Composting toilets to Easter Island"

Partners: Chilean National Parks Authority, Internationaler Hilfsfonds, Envrionment Equipment (Rotaloo), LAN Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui, The Easter Island Foundation.

Biodegradable Compostable Baby Nappies

Disposable baby nappies are a scourge on the Islands, a threat to drinking water, and can often be found on beaches, in the lagoons and in the environment in general. IHFA has successfully trialed Australian designed Eenees compostable baby nappies in Tuvalu, Palau, Kiribati and Easter Island.

IHFA has exclusive distribution rights to Eenees compostable baby nappies in the Pacific Islands. In the US, Eenees have been accredited with the Environmental 'Cradle to Cradle' accreditation for biological nutrients (see http://mbdc.com/certified.html).  This would have to be the highest possible Environmental standard to be applied to a consumer (nappy) product and supports Eeenees claim of Zero waste.

Click here to view “Eenees Compostable Baby Nappies”

Click here to view "Compostable Baby Nappies in the Pacific"

Economic Sustainability and Cultural Integrity Program

The key to stability in the Islands is good governance and sustainable economic development. International Help Fund Australia's programs and projects center on, but are not limited to, assisting Islands to promote tourism through the arts which has the added benefit of promoting and maintaining regional artistic and cultural development.
IH has:

  • Sponsored the following Islands to attend to the Sydney Aboriginal and Oceanic Art Fair, 2003 and 2004: The Kingdom of Tonga (03 and 04), East Timor, and Easter Island.
  • Produced a “Polynesian Dancing for Beginners” DVD.
  • Produced DVDs of Easter Island’s contemporary and traditional touring bands, Matato’a and Kari Kari so as to raise funds for promotion abroad.
  • Promoted musical artists in Australia.
  • Licensed the ABC’s “English Have a Go” for Easter Island to help promote tourism and the Island’s business operators.

Health Program

International Help Fund Australia’s developing health care program centers on non communicable disease prevention, and access to basic health care through the Child Sponsorship Program.