Waste Management & Water Pollution Initiative
Vanuatu | Waste Management & Water Pollution Initiative - Mele Youth Council | 2024
Halo olgeta!
We are Mele Youth Council, a dedicated youth-led movement tackling waste pollution in our village and along our waterways. In 2024, we launched a Waste Management & Water Pollution Initiative, aimed at improving waste disposal systems, educating communities, and promoting sustainability. Our mission? To create a cleaner, healthier environment by implementing proper waste segregation, recycling initiatives, and long-term community education on waste reduction.
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18 to 25 years old
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The Right-Sized Problem
Mele Village faces increasing waste management challenges, with poor rubbish disposal habits leading to pollution along riverbanks and the coastline. Many residents lack awareness about proper waste disposal, and plastic and aluminum waste accumulates, affecting both marine ecosystems and public health. Without effective intervention, the waste crisis will continue to worsen.
What did we do?
Through community engagement, clean-up activities, and waste segregation efforts, we took practical steps to address the pollution crisis in Mele.
Offline Impact
🗑️ Purchase & Installation of Waste Segregation Cages –
Placed waste collection cages in key areas for plastic and aluminum disposal.
Encouraged community members to separate waste for recycling.
📢 Public Awareness Campaigns on Waste Management –
Held an open-air campaign to educate residents about proper waste disposal.
Designed and distributed posters on waste awareness to reinforce messages.
♻️ Recycling & Sustainable Waste Disposal –
Organized a clean-up drive with students from Suango and Melemaat Primary Schools and Tupuji Imere football players.
Transported non-recyclable waste to Etas landfill while segregated materials were sold to Recycle Corp.
Online & Media Impact
📱 Social Media Strategy Development –
Currently working to establish a social media platform to increase campaign visibility and engagement.
Aim to post weekly updates and share educational content on waste management.
📢 Partnership Development –
Although no partnerships have been formalized yet, our SHIFT Officer is working on securing collaborations with local stakeholders.
Campaign Impact
4,202 people reached through in-person awareness activities.
New waste segregation system introduced, helping reduce pollution.
Recycling efforts turned waste into a sustainable income source for the community.
Increased youth engagement in waste management efforts.
A major success story came from community members who initially resisted the waste segregation system but later recognized its benefits. With ongoing education, more villagers are now using waste cages properly, and there is growing interest in expanding recycling opportunities.
What’s Next?
We are scaling up our impact by:
📌 Educating more residents on waste separation and the benefits of recycling.
📌 Strengthening partnerships to improve waste collection and sustainability efforts.
📌 Expanding our outreach to nearby villages to promote cleaner environments across Efate.
