Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

For an island located 3700 km off the mainland, treatment of waste is fundamental. It is almost a matter of life and death considering the relationship between poor garbage management and the deadly dengue mosquito. Easter Island (Rapa Nui) has 5300 residents but the great number of tourists visiting the island means that the population often is doubled – and so is the amount of waste. There are 2 garbage dumps on the island and only recently services are being implemented to address the trash. Many residents have taken the matter into their own hands; they burn the trash to prevent disease. However, the risk of an outbreak of the deadly Dengue fever is real as long as no efficient system for garbage management is in place.