Overview:
House of Delegates staff joined Palau’s Walk & Pick Initiative on Aug. 25, clearing roadside litter on Babeldaob ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting while highlighting a bigger message: keeping Palau clean is a shared community responsibility.
By: Laurel Marewibuel
KOROR, Palau (Aug. 27, 2026) — “When people see their neighbors actively caring for the community, it can establish a positive social expectation that discourages littering and promotes responsible behavior,” House Clerk Leilani Senior said, emphasizing the role of community participation in keeping Palau clean.
Staff members of the House of Delegates joined the Walk & Pick Initiative on Aug. 25, removing litter along a section of Babeldaob’s roadway as Palau prepares to host the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
The House team, including Senior, began collecting trash near the Ngkeklau Bus Stop and continued toward the entrance of Ngardmau State. After returning to the bus stop, the group continued cleaning along the roadway toward the entrance of Ngiwal village.
The cleanup was part of a broader community effort to prepare Palau for the regional leaders meeting, scheduled for Aug. 30 through Sept. 4. It also highlighted Palau’s practice of the shared responsibility of residents, government offices and communities to maintain clean and welcoming public spaces.
Senior said the House participated to help beautify Palau and demonstrate how collective action can support the community.
“Through its participation, the House also hopes to encourage greater community responsibility for maintaining a clean and welcoming Palau,” Senior said.
The House team saw litter and improperly discarded waste along the roadway, reminding them of the need for continued community cleanups, responsible waste disposal and improved waste-management practices.
Senior said the conditions also shows the need for stronger environmental policies, including measures that state governments can strengthen and enforce to help keep communities and Palau clean.
Senior said initiatives such as Walk & Pick can help promote lasting changes by building civic pride and a shared responsibility for public spaces.
“When people see their neighbors actively caring for the community, it can establish a positive social expectation that discourages littering and promotes responsible behavior,” she said.