Solid Waste Management in the Pacific: The Federated States of Micronesia Country Snapshot

Abstract

This flyer outlines the status of solid waste management in the Federated States of Micronesia and recommends key points for action to address challenges facing the country related to solid waste management. The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) consists of four states: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. This country snapshot provides an overview of solid waste management (SWM) arrangements in Kosrae and Pohnpei. The country’s capital, Palikir, is located on Pohnpei, which is the largest and most developed state in the FSM, with a population of 36,196 in 2012. Kosrae, which had a population of 6,616, is the FSM’s second largest island. Around 83% of Pohnpei’s population resides in the urban center of Kolonia, while 67% of Kosrae’s population is found in the island’s urban center of Lelu. The per capita gross domestic product of the FSM was estimated at $3,133 in 2012. The FSM has three tiers of government: national, state, and municipal.