Mitiaro is facing a growing challenge with its current waste management system. Despite the island’s pristine beauty and small community, the island’s lack of a proper waste disposal infrastructure is becoming a pressing concern.

The current waste management system is inadequate for the island’s 100+ residents and occasional visitors, with waste often stored in narrow dumpsites or burned.

This practice poses significant environmental risks, especially to the island’s unique ecosystems, and is contributing to pollution along the coastline, which threatens marine life.
The absence of a structured system is also leading to public health concerns, as waste sites become breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests like rats and mosquitoes. Over the years, there has been an increase in both domestic and commercial waste, and with limited resources to address it, residents are growing increasingly concerned about the environmental and health impacts. Improper disposal of plastics, e-waste, and construction materials is contributing to land and water pollution.

Tourism is impacted as a key sector for the local economy.
The Cook Islands Government is involved in projects that will support waste management in the Pa Enua, including Mitiaro.

Through the PacWaste Project, Infrastructure Cook Islands will be disseminating waste depot systems for the Pa Enua. NES is finalising its GEF ISLANDS project with SPREP. This project involves the collection of hazardous and bulky waste from the Pa Enua. The sorting of waste by its type is key for this collection project. 
Improving waste facilities in the Pa Enua, including Mitiaro, is becoming an urgent need for relevant agencies including NES. The Mitiraro community have made their voices clear that they would like to see a proper waste facility. NES will be implementing key projects in the Pa Enua that will involve waste. Funding is a key focus for NES, through its discussions with the Cook Islands Government and multilateral financing mechanisms such as GEF.
The people of Mitiaro are optimistic that with the right investments and community support, a practical and environmentally friendly waste management solution can be implemented, improving the quality of life for island residents while preserving the natural beauty that makes the island so special.

 As Mitiaro continues to grow, it is imperative that the island embraces modern waste management practices to protect both the environment and its residents. National Environment Service release