VEPA News: Neiafu rubbish clean up

Environment Week has started! It has been lots of fun helping organise the Environment Week activities with the team at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Today was the first activity! It was a great success with over twenty people showing up for the rubbish clean up in Neiafu. We removed a total of 45 sacks which was a great effort from everyone! Thanks to VEPA who funded the purchase of materials required for the clean up. Also a special mention to the Australian Pacific Technical College who assisted with the clean up and are really keen to become active Friends of VEPA. Rubbish was separated into recycables (cans, plastic and glass bottles) and general waste which was then taken to GIO recycling and the tip. Jeff and Sandy from Vava'u Adventures donated their trailer and quad bike to collect the rubbish, so a big thanks to you guys!

After the clean up I headed out the East side villages of Vava'u, with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, to inspect the clean up of each villages. An award will be presented to the cleanest small and large village at the closing exhibition on Friday the 8th of June. A representative from FM ch 90 was with us to report live on the radio the cleaning progress the each village. A cameraman from the local TV was also filming the clean up and recording locations of any illegal dumping. It was great to see David, the village officer of Pangimotu, concerned about illegal rubbish dumping and requesting his village to report back to him if anyone knows who it is that is dumping just outside the village.

Tomorrow I will be attending the morning Church service, where there will be reading to promote World Environment Week. The service will include reading from members of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and will be recorded and shown on the local TV, as soon as its up and running.

Stay tuned for more updated of Environment Week activities!

Elana