Tonga Waste Management faces challenges [1]
Friday, July 11, 2014 - 15:37
An Asian Development Bank (ADB) review has summarized challenges for Tonga’s Solid Waste Management.
According to the review by Urban Development specialist Allison Woodruff, Tonga’s Waste Authority Limited (WAL) faces “critical financing challenges”. In addition, medical waste disposal remains a concern and waste management needs further awareness raising and promotion on Tongatapu.
“WAL face significant challenges in terms of its financial sustainability going forward” the review stated.
“Overall, this initial review has highlighted the progress achieved by Government and private operators…but at the same time, has identified issues that WAL and the sector in general face in moving forward” the review stated.
The review also stated that there was low collection efficiency due to there being only two waste collection trucks operating on Tongatapu (servicing 71,000 people).
“WAL’s MSW collection service is currently collecting around 65% of the island’s urban household MSW and around 25% in rural areas. This equals only about 20 tons per day, leaving about 10 tons per day uncollected by the municipial.”
There were success stories, a private recycling business was credited for its operations. In 2013, the company exported 1,479 tonnes of steel, 9.5 tonnes of copper, 15.5 tonnes of aluminium, 54,000 litres of used oils and 50.4 tonnes of wet batteries.