Motor vehicles are an environmental hazard in one form or another throughout their entire lives. At the end of their lives as they sit in backyards around the island, lead, nickel, other harmful materials such as cadmium, chromium brominated flame retardants or poly chlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs) which are hazardous, eventually seep into the ground and our water table. So does motor oil and other fluids once the holders of these fluids deteriorate.
So through this project, it is our hope to change the apathetic attitude of people. We hope to get them to understand the impact their SCRAP vehicle poses to the environment. In addition, to make them aware that there is a means of disposal. And finally, that there is a responsibility to
owning a vehicle and being a good steward of our environment means, that at the end of its life, that we ensure the proper disposal of SCRAP vehicles to leave the environment as pristine as possible for future generations. In addition, it will result in a cleaner, tidier image of the island which is reliant on tourism. The project will ensure sections currently used as dumping sites can be cleared for agricultural or investment purposes.
This project looks to remove about 100 SCRAP vehicles in the Takuvaine, Parekura, Tutakimoa and wider Vaka of Teauotonga between the period 1st May 2020 to 1st May 2021.
This project will also be run in conjunction with Cook Islands Television (CITV) and Radio Cook Islands (RCI), who will sponsor the advertising to let the people of this area know that the project is now running and that they can come in to register their interest to have their SCRAP vehicle
removed. The project will also appear on the CITV Local News at the beginning, middle and end of the project to build awareness.