KOROR (Palau Horizon) – Koror State Governor Yositaka Adachi and Japan Ambassador Yoshiyuki Sadaoka formally signed the contract for the Koror State Waste Segregation Station Phase 2 Project granted by the Japan government in a signing ceremony held at the office of the Japan Embassy, Wednesday.
This project amounting to $38,250 will construct 30 waste segregation stations in Medalaii, Iyebukel, Idid and Ikelau. According to the Japan embassy, the aim of this project is to effectively segregate the solid waste produced by the households in Koror.
The construction of additional waste segregation stations will enable each household to segregate waste effectively. Waste segregation and recycling greatly reduces the amount of waste being sent to the landfill. Moreover, segregated waste leads to recycling of aluminum cans and bottles that can mean another source of income to the families of Koror.
Koror Solid Waste (KSW) Management Office has been working towards protecting the environment by reducing solid waste and raising awareness of the citizens through “3R” action. In 2007, KSW received its first Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) grant to support the recycling system with the multi-use crusher, glass machine and various electrical supplies.
The first grant enabled KSW to rehabilitate the M-dock dumpsite by crushing and shredding various waste for recycling to reduce the volume of the waste resulting in the extension of the life span for the dumpsite.
According to Sadaoka, Palau is one of the numerous island nations that face an uncertain future due to climate change. One of the ways to mitigate the ill-effects of the changing climate conditions is to address solid waste management in order to preserve and protect the environment
