Palau is leading for Solid Waste Management in Pacific Region 

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) implementing agency for “Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for the Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries Phase 3 (J-PRISM3)” since July 2023 in the Pacific Region.

After the kick-off for country’s activities of Palau in the middle of October 2023, JICA Expert Team and Palauan counterparts have been jointly discussing to draft the annual work plan with some modification on the Project Design Matrix (PDM). Upon the discussion, 7 members came to visit Palau to finalize the annual work plan with the counterparts and the first Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) to approve the plan that was held on 2^nd April at BPW’s conference room.

JCC meeting was chaired by the Project Director, Mr. Brian Melairei, Director of BPW-MPII, Mr. Calvin Ikesiil, Chief of Solid Waste Management Division of BPW, Palauan counterparts from BPW, EQPB, Koror States Government, Embassy of Japan, JICA Palau Office and team of Expert.

J-PRISM3 activities in Palau aims to achieve the following Outputs.

1. Financial operations of Solid Waste Management (SWM) are strengthened by increasing revenue, through the discussion on the incentive program and the guideline for source segregation for commercial waste generators together with draft regulation of the tipping fee.
2. Environmental pollutions are prevented through improvements in the public open dumpsites such as Aimeliik, Peleliu, or other states, though the target dumpsites will be determined in the course of the project.
3. Legislation towards sound material-cycle society is drafted, through drafting an overarching law to expand Advance Recovery Fee & Deposit (ARFD) and other legal framework on the problematic waste type.
4. Capacity to develop financially sustainable model for wastes is strengthened, through implementing a pilot project for such model to create the road map.

After the first JCC meeting, full-scale activities for J-PRISM3 will be launched, and active participation and cooperation from all concerned parties in Palau. It is expected as pioneers in the Pacific region with their confidence and pride, together with Expert team.