The European Union’s Pacific Waste Management Programme (PacWastePlus) is encouraging Pacific islanders to provide their opinions for an online survey on social inclusion.

The survey was announced by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P.).

PacWastePlus’ survey seeks to gain an understanding of how issues of gender equality and social inclusion are currently being considered and incorporated into waste and environmental programme management in the Pacific.

PacWastePlus is a European Union-funded programme, implemented by S.P.R.E.P. which is working towards generating improved economic, social, health and environmental outcomes by building capacity and sustainability into waste management.

The outcome of the Social Inclusion Survey analysis will guide gender equality and social inclusion changes that can strengthen the PacWastePlus Programme’s activities.

Consideration will be given to the eight programme target waste streams, as well as understanding of issues relating to human rights in waste management in general.

But it will also assist countries to understand views on community engagement and provide some feedback on the delivery of a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.G.s).

The programme is focussing its efforts on the priority waste streams of hazardous wastes (specifically asbestos, e-waste and healthcare waste), solid wastes ( recyclables, organic waste, disaster waste and bulky waste).

S.P.R.E.P. says that the short survey will ask a series of questions on how waste might affect the environment or human health; who is involved in decisions; how consultation occurs; and how issues are resolved.

The survey will also examine how various sectors of the community (including men, women, youth, people with a disability, vulnerable and marginalised and cultural groups) are impacted and their issues can be better addressed.  

The impact of waste and pollution on Pacific countries is taking its toll on the health of communities, degrading natural ecosystems, threatening food security, reducing resilience to climate change and adversely impacting social and economic development, S.P.R.E.P. says.