Waste management
From its roots Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) has recognised that waste was quickly becoming a major problem in the Cook Islands. In 1996 TIS launched the first ‘Clean Up the World’ day in the Cook Islands. This involved volunteers around the island collecting rubbish from beaches, empty land, hedges etc. Participants even received a certificate of recognition for their part in helping to keep Rarotonga clean. Although ‘Clean up the World’ is now managed by the National Environment Service (NES), staff from TIS still actively take part in these types of events.
Managing waste is a shared responsibility. Understanding our impact through the choices we make is an important part of our educational approach. This is achieved through supporting youth programmes, writing news articles especially around plastic pollution, by proactively taking part, and by example.
Youth education
As part of a holiday programme run in collaboration with Kōrero o te ‘Orau and Muri Environment Care, Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) was involved in supporting a guided tour of the Arorangi Landfill, provided by the Infrastructure Cook Islands Waste Management Division. This exposed holiday programme participants to the significant pressures of human waste on the island environment.
Only PET plastics (eg, soda bottles), aluminium cans, and glass are sorted to prevent them being added to the landfill. Crucially, the group learned that only some PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans are sent offshore for recycling (aluminium due to its economic value); all other plastics, such as cleaning product containers, food packaging, and plastic bags, remain on the island in the landfill.
To address this, the discussion focused on conscious consumerism. Practical solutions encouraged choosing glass and aluminium over plastic bottles (as crushed glass can be reused locally for concrete or fill), utilising reusable drinking bottles, and taking advantage of free UV- treated water refill stations across the island to reduce plastic waste. Furthermore, the ‘Maine Mura’ reusable feminine hygiene programme was introduced to the female attendees.
Clean up the Beach day
TIS staff regularly take part in the annual Muri Beach Clean-up. The community-led initiative, running for six years and organised by Muri Environment Care, saw approximately 60 participants from the community and local businesses join the effort. They swept the entire coastal stretch, from Parengaru Stream to Avana Point, collecting debris—including rusted fencing—in recycled 20kg flour bags supplied by Avarua Bakery.
Children were also engaged with activities, such as colouring a banner designed by Gemma Langley (VSA volunteer).
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