A recent United Nations Development Programme (U.N.D.P.) handover, of safety gear and equipment for segregation of recyclables, to the people of Tokelau will provide a critical boost to their waste management efforts. 

The Atolls of Atafu and Nukunonu have already received one 20-foot shipping container each to segregate and store recyclable waste while Fakaofo is due to receive two containers for its two villages

U.N.D.P.’s Circular Economy for the Recovery of Waste (CERO Waste) donated the equipment in the 18-month programme for Samoa and Tokelau.

The project is a partnership between the Department of Economic Development, Natural Resources and Environment (E.D.N.R.E.) of Tokelau and the U.N.D.P. 

E.D.N.R.E. will be supported with USD$40,000 worth of infrastructure (shipping containers as waste segregation and storage units, jumbo bags, litter picking tongs and other equipment), labour (targeting youth employment in Tokelau), and technical capacity for waste collection and segregation.

It also provides awareness-raising activities including Atafu’s Environment Week 2020 and banners.

Filipo Perez, Executive Director of E.D.N.R.E. to Tokelau expressed his gratitude to the U.N.D.P. for the support given to the Tokelauean people. 

"Aside from what has already been donated by the U.N.D.P. Tokelau has been purchasing a lot of materials. And because it is an atoll state, the environment is highly impacted. Construction wise, and as well as the products we have now, they are mostly plastic.

"Everything comes from Samoa as it's the only port for Tokelau.

He said, a second part of the recently donated incinerators from U.N.D.P. to help with waste was the containers that were handed over, because of the Covid-19 lockdown. 

"All hardware materials like cans, tins are brought back to Tafaigata grounds. Our request back to the government of Samoa to please reopen borders to bring back materials here, as before. It's still in discussion.

"We are still waiting for that (decision)."

Perez said that in the meantime, Tokelau can store waste or heavy waste in the 20 foot containers. He added that some safety gear has been shipped over, with more arriving because some of it is not in stock in Samoa, so U.N.D.P. is there to provide that.

"The donation made by the U.N.D.P is very helpful with the tools and equipment given for our people," he said.

Tokelau’s small size (three atolls), isolation and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. 

Its principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. 

UNDP’s overall goal is to contribute to sustainable human development and has four focus areas in its mandate, poverty, education, democratic governance, environment and energy, and crisis prevention and recovery.