Under the Solomon-Islands Australia Partnership, Australia has partnered with Cheroa Waste Management Services (CWMS) to expand waste collection services in Honiara.
CWMS, a locally owned business established in 2023, provides private garbage collection services for businesses and households in Honiara and Central Guadalcanal.
CWMS currently employs eight staff and collects rubbish from over 130 households in Honiara fortnightly.
Demonstrating their commitment to sustainability, CWMS has formed partnerships with local recycling companies promoting household waste segregation by offering customers free waste bins with instructions on separating rubbish for collection.
To assist the company in up-scaling waste management services, Australia supported CWMS with operational costs and marketing over the next year, with a goal of expanding its clientele.
Rod Hilton, Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands commended the new partnership with CWMS, highlighting the benefits of sustainable waste management solutions extend beyond the environment.
“As a local business Cheroa’s work in sustainable waste management will contribute to the health and wellbeing of citizens, a cleaner city, and importantly, the economy,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
“With an increased customer base, there will be opportunities for additional jobs,” he added.
As Honiara’s urban population continues to grow, waste collection remains a pressing issue in the capital.
It is estimated that Honiara generates around 80 tonnes of waste per day. Honiara City Council (HCC) covers six of the 10 designated waste collection zones, with the remaining four managed by private contractors.
Waste management services in Honiara include household rubbish collection and community skip bins in designated locations.
However, some households and communities remain unserved, leading to illegal dumping and environmental degradation.
Pato Rebi from CWMS expressed gratitude for Australia’s support noting it will enable Cheroa to serve more households in the capital.
“Australia’s support will allow us to expand our waste management services, while balancing the financial risks and instability that increased operational expenses can bring,” Rebi said.
“We are keen to complement ongoing efforts to manage waste, including the segregation of waste to make the recycling process easier and less expensive for recycling companies,” he added.
The new CWMS agreement complements existing support to partners, including hazardous waste handling with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology; waste segregation with Honiara City Council; and the exporting of aluminium cans through recycling companies, SolPower and Plastic Wise.