Participants attending the final symposium for LEAF under the JICA Partnership Programme in Solomon Islands

JICA has called for continued cooperation in waste management after the exit of Learning and Ecological Activities for Children (LEAF).

Resident Representative of JICA Solomon Islands Office, Mr Kyoji Mizutani said the LEAF project will leave, but its concepts will remain.

Adding that it is very important to continue facing the challenge of addressing waste management in Honiara.

“Now we can see what the project has achieved and outcomes from the activities during last three years in order to solve waste management in Solomon Islands.

“I believe the project contributed a big step to the future of waste management in the country.

“The goal after completing the project is that systematic waste management is implemented in Honiara City in a continues manner through the efforts of the Council for Civic-Government through collaboration.

“This is towards household waste reduction and separate waste collection that similar initiatives are encourage in areas where private companies are contracted in waste management duties,” he said.

Mr Mizutani pointed out that all agreed Honiara is still faced with many challenging issues and the management of solid waste is still one of the serious problems to address.

“I believe HCC will take over today (yesterday) the handed over equipment use during the project, but also the project concept and efforts to continue on with the work,” he said.

Mr Mizutani said JICA will continue to support the results of the project to step forward to solve the issue in Solomon Islands.

He added that not only HCC, but everyone needs to cooperate to address the issue.

During the symposium yesterday, LEAF project handed over a compactor used during the project to HCC to continue the work.