Call to address commercial waste

APPROPRIATE measures need to be put in place to address the increased in waste from commercial properties in Kokopo, East New Britain, says an overseas volunteer.
Charlotte Wesley, an Australian Volunteer based in Kokopo, mentioned this point last week during a Science Cafe’.
Wesley said Kokopo Township’s municipal wastes are not that different to other parts of the world.
She said poor the road network, high costs in transporting waste and weak market for recycling products are factors contributing to increase in environmental pollution and more waste lying everywhere.
She said there is a strategy for Pacific called “The Cleaner Pacific Strategy” by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, an organisation which tries to deliver United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
They have trialed the strategy in Kokopo but needed a collaborative effort from industries, business houses, educational institutions and households.
Her colleague, Michael O’Connell spoke on using plants as a natural air-conditioner.
O’Connell said no one can escape from the effects of climate change, such as rise in sea level, increase in temperature, different weather patterns and many more.
Human beings can however, create strategies to adapt to the change.
He said one such strategy is landscaping.
O’Connell said when deciding landscaping, one must consider geology, terrain, topography, plant association and climate.