Matthew Rima from the National Environment Service (NES) recently returned from a five-day training programme in Singapore ocused on circular economy and solid waste management. The programme combined global expertise, hands-on site visits, and real-world policy solutions.
Held in July 2025, the course brought together representatives from over 20 countries, including Bhutan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, and South Africa. Sessions covered a range of topics, from climate change and urbanisation to national waste legislation and behavioural approaches to recycling. Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources hosted the programme in partnership with academic and technical institutions.
One of the most impactful aspects of the course was its hands-on approach. Participants visited state-of-the-art facilities like the Tuas South Incineration Plant, Semakau Landfill, and Ecowise Biomass Systems. These visits highlighted how Singapore is transforming waste into energy, reclaiming space, and applying science and technology to achieve its ambitious Green Plan 2030 goals.
For Mr. Rima, the course was particularly relevant to the work being done by NES back home. Sessions on food waste innovation, e-waste recovery, and integrated waste-to-energy systems echoed many of the challenges and opportunities faced by small island developing states (SIDS). While Singapore’s scale and resources are far different from the Cook Islands, the core principles of circular design, efficiency, and sustainability offered valuable lessons.
“The course was a reminder that while our realities may be different, the goals are shared. Circular economy thinking is something we can grow into, one step, one island solution at a time.”
Another highlight of the programme was the diversity of participants. Country representatives exchanged ideas on community engagement, landfill management, and localised recycling efforts — all of which added depth to the course and reinforced the power of shared learning between regions facing similar environmental pressures.
Although many of the approaches shared during the programme align with NES’s existing direction, the experience opened up potential next steps. These may include:
- Exploring collaboration with Singapore-based technical partners;
- Strengthening Pacific regional waste cooperation;
- Supporting future Cook Islands candidates to participate in similar training opportunities.
The programme concluded with an action-planning workshop, where participants reflected on how they might apply lessons from the course in their own countries. For NES, the visit reinforced the importance of staying connected to global innovation while continuing to build solutions rooted in the Cook Islands’ context.
