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This paper explores the effectiveness of a training program in strengthening the capacity of disaster waste management (DWM) in Vanuatu, drawing on an action research project undertaken during the delivery of a Training of Trainers (ToT) program in Port Vila and Ifira Island. The researchers gathered feedback through questionnaires, host group discussions, and park sheets from the participants. This feedback was used to inform revisions of the Disaster Waste Management Handbook to be provided to participants, and to understand the potential benefits for similar programs in other countries across the Pacific Region. The ToT proved to be well-received by participants with 64.7% of the participants giving a rating of "Excellent" and the remaining participants rating it "Good". It demonstrated to be a cost-effective mode of training with scalability and promoted self-reliance and empowerment of the community. Key challenges in the delivery included time management, and internet connectivity disruptions. By addressing these key challenges and with further research to ensure that it is context-specific, the ToT model could be used effectively to strengthen DWM capacity in other Pacific Island nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific island countries are facing critical challenges in managing the growing amount of increasingly diverse wastes because of changing lifestyles and the concentration of populations in urban areas. Although marine plastic waste is an issue in the Pacific region, there have been almost no studies of the estimation and impacts of ocean plastic waste, and measures to control such waste, in these countries. Here, first we conducted a questionnaire survey about consumption and disposal of plastic products at households in Samoa as one of the examples of Pacific island countries to grasp the flow of plastic materials and awareness or behaviour for plastic waste. Then we quantified ocean plastic waste and discussed the effective and needed countermeasures in Pacific island countries. The total amount of mismanaged plastic waste was estimated to be 327,000 or 156,000 t y−1 (depending on the scenario) in Pacific island countries. The regional Pacific island countries contribution to the global total mismanaged plastic waste was estimated to range from 1.3% to 2.7%. The amount of mismanaged plastic waste per capita in some Pacific island countries, such as Solomon Islands and Micronesia, was also ranked highly globally. The main reasons seem to be that waste collection rates are relatively low in rural areas and rates of plastic waste generation are high. To implement solutions, including improving municipal solid waste collection, reducing plastic waste, improving the collection and recycling of plastics, and the integration of a number of policies is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]