Greetings to everyone in Kiribati, for your information, the Scrap Metal Project from New Zealand has already begun its operations on the collection of scrap vehicles – cars, buses, trucks and others – with the support of the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development. This project is funded by the New Zealand government and is run by the Macaulay Metals Limited company who is the main contractor and Argo Environmental who is the sub-contractor.

From Tuesday, the 1^st of November to Sunday, the 18^th of December, 2022, the project has already collected about 380 scrap vehicles. These scraps have also been baled and crushed with the use of a baling machine. These scrap vehicles have been collected from the scrap yard at Betio and from villages on South Tarawa that have been marked/selected including Betio.

Furthermore, it is expected that the project work on the collection of scrap vehicles will be happening for the next two weeks in different villages of South Tarawa which are Banraeaba, Ambo, Teaoraereke, Temwaiku, Bonriki as well as Betio and those found along the sides of the main island road. The places that have been marked/selected for the collection of the scrap vehicles, a consultation between the owner and an officer from the Agro Environmental is conducted for the collection of their scrap vehicle. With the owner’s agreement, their scrap vehicle could then be collected by workers from the Macaulay Metals Limited and sent to the scrap yard at Betio. Scrap vehicles that are delivered to the scrap yard with their own transportation by the public is also appreciated and can be delivered from Monday to Friday.

It is highly encouraged to those who wish to have their scrap vehicles collected or delivered on their own accord to dispose any rubbish inside their car and put it inside a green bag. The Environment and Conservation Division also has a regulation for scrap cars that are abandoned or left near the main road, on any public place and on private land whereby a person who is found to commit such an offence would be convicted to a fine not exceeding $500,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years. As for a body corporate or business, to a fine not exceeding $1,000,000.00 or to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years. The general public should also know that the collection of their scrap vehicles from their home or place is free of charge. Therefore, it is with an earnest wish to the general public should they make use of this project as it will be your own expense to pay for the collection of your scrap vehicles once the project ends.

So, for those of you who haven’t got into contact for the collection of your scrap vehicles from your home or place and you wish for it to be collected, please do not hesitate the Environment and Conservation Division via this contact number 75228000 or the free line at 417 for assistance.

Remember that by working together would contribute to the sustainable cleanliness and health of our environment for today and tomorrow that will maintain our country as Kiribati te Boboto (Kiribati is Beautiful).