Every Household on Nusabaruku Island Joins our Waste Collection Service!

Just a three-minute boat ride from Gizo Island, the community of Nusabaruku is tackling some of the Solomon Islands’ most pressing environmental challenges—and it’s achieving remarkable results. This small fishing village, home to 126 households, has come together to address the island’s waste problems.

Rising seas and pollution have long devastated Nusabaruku with no formal waste management system community members are forced to burn or throw their waste into the ocean or surrounding streets.

After seeing the positive impact of our Waste Collection Service (WCS) on Gizo, the people of Nusabaruku were interested in replicating this success in their community!

Following a series of community consultations and environmental education sessions, all 126 households have made a commitment to participate, sorting waste into designated bags for weekly collection! This waste is then transported via boat to our Repurposed Waste Unit (RWU) on Gizo Island, where our team sort, wash and upcycle the waste into new products.

We are currently trialling creating products with our plastic press machines and are looking for an engineer to expand our range so we can sell these products in an international market!

Kastom Keepers Workshop: Revitalising Traditional Knowledge

The recent Kastom Keepers workshop bolstered the extraordinary participation in Nusabaruku’s Waste Collection Service. This workshop, led by Kastom Storyteller Millicent Barty, brought the village together to reconnect with traditional knowledge.

Through memory sharing, empathy mapping, and creative expression, residents explored ways to protect both their cultural heritage and natural resources. The workshop, one of three planned as part of this program, strengthened the community’s sense of purpose and commitment to conservation.

“When we honour and live in harmony with our land and sea, we inherently honour and care for one another, for we are all part of the same community and ecosystem.”

Community-Led Conservation in Action

Today, what was once a village struggling with waste is now nearly pristine, with the community taking ownership of their environment. The success of this program demonstrates the impact of community-led conservation, showing that when communities are given the tools and support they need, they are the most effective stewards of their lands and waters.

With support from USAID and collaboration with incredible partners like Coast 2 Coast Movement, Beyond The Surface International, and Oriana Poindexter, we see firsthand the power of storytelling and community-led conservation in action.

These partners travelled from around the globe to help document and share the story of Nusabaruku’s transformation, inspiring other communities to follow suit. Congratulations to the Nusabaruku community!

This is a significant achievement, and we can’t wait to see what other communities join us next!