The Titā ki te Titā kore (TKTTK) programme, also known as the Rarotonga Legacy Waste Project, has successfully removed over 286,101 kilograms of legacy waste from villages on Rarotonga. A total of 52 containers were exported to New Zealand, including 33 20-foot containers and 19 40-foot containers.
Rolled out in July 2023 by the National Environment Service (NES), supported by the Cook Islands Government and in partnership with Cook Islands General Transport (CIGT), the TKTTK programme aimed to address the environmental and health risks posed by improper disposal of end of life household and office appliances also known as whiteware and electronic waste (E-waste), and end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) on the island.
The programme’s initial phase saw a remarkable 104,200 kilograms of legacy waste collected, with Titikaveka reporting the highest and Matavera the lowest quantities respectively. To ensure maximum participation, an additional collection round was conducted by Vaka, resulting in another successful wave of legacy waste collected.
“The TKTTK programme is a critical step towards addressing our island’s growing waste crisis,” said Halatoa Fua, Director, NES. “We are grateful for the support of the government, private sector and the community, whose engagement has been instrumental in its success. As we look ahead, we are committed to continuing this important work and expanding the programme’s reach to tackle this important issue.”
Building on this success, the upcoming Global Environment Facility (GEF) ISLANDS Project will expand the programme to the Pa Enua in 2025, aiming to replicate the positive impact and further protect and clean up our islands.
Phase Two of the TKTTK programme will be extended until June 2025. Starting November 12, 2024, CIGT will accept e-waste and whiteware drop-offs at the CIGT Facility in Tutakimoa on the days and times listed below. Transportation services can be arranged directly with the CIGT team for waste pickup, with fees included. Registration forms are available for download from the NES website at https://environment.gov.ck/partnerships/current-projects/tita-ki-te-titakore/ or can be filled out in person at the CIGT Facility.
