Micronesia/Chuuk: Weno Island As Car Graveyard

Weno is literally a graveyard of wrecked, rusting, abandoned cars – it’s like the entire island is just a scrap yard. Most vehicles in Chuuk are imported as cheap, second-hand cars from Japan or other countries, and at the very end of their useful life with high mileage and a shorter remaining lifespan. The island’s potholed roads, salty and humid air, rainfall, and overall “who gives a f$&@“ attitude of the local population results in the cars breaking down quickly. And when they do break down, the cost of repair often exceeds the value of the car – no mechanics, no shops, no spare parts. And there is no way to remove the scrap from the island – too expensive to export, no local scrap yards or landfills. Besides, all land on Weno is private, so people can just dump their cars on their piece of land and nobody cares.