Palau News Letter Vol.6] Promotion of Separate Discharge System in Babeldaob Island, Palau (JICA Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project)

We would like to provide you with an update on the JICA Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project "Promotion of Separate Discharge System in Babeldaob Island, Palau" which is being implemented in Palau.

Station construction begins

　The Resource Recovery Promotion Team (Community Type) is constructing a resource recovery station ("station") to be used by residents in the target areas of Gappan and Eymerik. First of all, a prototype has been completed.

　In July 2024, ICETT was in Palau to finalize the station design, construction materials, and construction schedule with the Solid Waste Management Division of the Bureau of Public Works, Department of Public Infrastructure, Industry, and Commerce (commonly known as BPW), the state governors of the two target regions, and other activity stakeholders. Currently, construction has begun by carpenters from the provincial government.

Station (Prototype)	Meeting with activity members

　In Palau, garbage is basically not separated, but placed in drums placed in each household's yard, and garbage trucks collect the garbage from the drums and take it to a landfill.

　With this project, we, together with the Palau Waste Management Department, aim to help residents in the target areas understand the perspective of environmental conservation, what can be recycled in Palau, and the fact that many resources are mixed in the drum trash, and to establish resident-led activities to separate and discharge trash. If this activity spreads, it will lead to the use of landfill sites for as long as possible.

　The station will collect plastics, cans, and glass as resources.

Aimérique State Residents' Meeting (1)	Aimérique State Residents' Meeting (2)

Gappan State Residents' Assembly (1)	The Gappan Province Residents' Assembly (2)

Tour of landfill site

　The "Resource Recovery Promotion Team (School Education Type)" held a team meeting during ICETT's activities in Palau. In preparation for the planned sorting of recyclables at elementary schools, the team members, elementary school teachers from Babeldaob Island, were first given an overview of the landfill site and a tour by BPW staff in order to learn about the necessity of sorting. The members who visited the site for the first time were interested and asked a variety of questions to deepen their own understanding.

　The next step is to plan tours for students at each school.

Tour of disposal site ①.	Tour of the disposal site (2)

Please look forward to the next issue of Palau News!