6 Dec 2010

Japan to provide funding to help deal with waste in Marshall Islands

11:44 am on 6 December 2010

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is stepping up cooperation with the Marshall Islands to tackle waste problems.

JICA and Marshall Islands officials signed an agreement recently in Majuro for a five-year project to improve solid waste management in the Marshall Islands.

The programme is part of a Japan-funded Pacific-wide waste improvement programme.

The Majuro Atoll Waste Company General Manager, Roger Cooper, whose agency is taking the lead role, says it will boost under-funded waste collection and recycling programmes begun in the past two years.

He says the Japanese will help develop the country's first national waste management strategy, and focus on improving recycling, composting and school-based recycling programmes.