Our Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) is helping to address plastic waste on the small Pacific Island of Niue, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Once a sacred swimming spot for Niuean royalty, today the island attracts many tourists - and therefore also litter.
In 2020, Niue legislated a ban on single-use plastics and is now working towards a plastic-free future.
POLP is assisting this work by:
- supporting development of legislation and policies
- increasing consumer awareness of alternatives to single-use plastics
- targeting single-use plastic reduction measures for sectors and businesses.
Australia has also invested in Niue's waste management infrastructure. This will collect, segregate, and dispose of plastic waste.
POLP supports not only Niue. It will also support the coastal environments of 14 Pacific Island countries. Litter on these islands can harm the marine environment. Plastics impact fish and other marine life. This includes:
- coral reefs
- beaches
- mangrove forests.
As part of our Nature Positive work, we are committed to collaborating with our Pacific neighbours. As we have a shared interest in environmental issues such as plastic pollution.
