Waste to wealth

Solomon Islands

Waste to Wealth is a community-led circular waste management and livelihoods program in the Western Province, Solomon Islands. Adapted from PCFML’s work in India, the program combines source-separated waste collection, local sorting and processing, organic waste recovery, plastic source reduction and paid local livelihoods while reducing pollution entering coastal and marine environments.

Waste Collection Service (WCS)

Since late 2021, our community-run Waste Collection Service has grown from zero participating households to 276 service points, comprising 272 households and four restaurants.

Participating households and businesses separate waste at source for regular collection by our local team. Materials are weighed, sorted, stored and processed through our Waste Recovery Centre in Gizo, with collection focused on waste streams for which responsible processing, recovery or downstream pathways can be established.

IMPACT TO DATE

276 service points – 272 households and 4 restaurants participating in the Waste Collection Service.
4,104kg of dry solid waste collected since the Waste Collection Service commenced, building from zero participating households.
32 W2W casual workers and PCFML staff supported through current delivery including >90% women and >50% youth participating in paid/local delivery roles and ~5% participation by people with disabilities.
Waste Recovery Centre (WRC) established in Gizo supporting weighing, sorting, processing and storage of recovered materials.

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Leave No Trace (LNT)

Our Leave No Trace program works with businesses, market vendors, communities and government partners to reduce avoidable single-use plastics at source. Through this work, PCFML and its partners supported the transition of Gizo Central Market to single-use plastic-free operations, working with vendors to adopt locally appropriate and reusable alternatives.

IMPACT TO DATE

Gizo Central Market transitioned to single-use plastic-free operations.
100 market vendors engaged through Waste to Wealth and source-reduction activities.
Community and business engagement delivered through workshops, educational signage, local radio and market-based outreach.
Local and regional alternatives to avoidable single-use products tested and promoted.

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‘GUDFALA FLY’ ORGANIC WASTE & COMPOSTING PROGRAM

Gudfala Fly processes source-separated food and organic waste locally using black soldier fly larvae and composting, converting material that would otherwise contribute to dumping or burning into a locally useful soil product.

The program supports local livelihoods while improving access to compost for home gardens, nurseries and food production. Revenue from viable compost sales can also contribute to the longer-term operating costs of Waste to Wealth.

IMPACT TO DATE

2,400kg of organic waste processed.
1,521kg of compost produced.
Local women and youth involved in collection, processing and compost production.
Compost produced for local gardens, nurseries and food-growing systems.