Rotarians Want Your Used Bottles
ROTARY CLUB, ISOQOSOQO VAKAMARAMA ITAUKEI CAKAUDROVE ESTABLISH BOTTLE RE-USE PROGRAMME.
The Rotary Club of Savusavu is working with the iSoqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei Cakaudrove to establish a bottle re-use programme.
It’s a simple and useful project where people bring their used glass or plastic bottles to a table in the Savusavu Market and anyone can collect them and take them away. Women from the local villages use the bottles to store coconut oil, homemade chutney, jam, and water. Having a stand at the market makes it far easier for women to collect them and then get on the bus home. Locals can drop off their used bottles for the project. iSoqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei
Cakaudrove co-ordinator Elenoa Kaisau said the local women from the villages were pleased.
“They say that water tastes better when it’s kept in a glass bottle,” Ms Kaisau said.
“A lot of them prefer it for keeping coconut oil, especially when it’s a gift.”
She said when the rules on social gatherings are lifted there would be a surge of weddings, and coconut oil was often a popular gift.
The programme started under the organisation of Angela Sparrow – Australian volunteer International.
At this stage, the bottles are all brought to the women’s bure and stored there, which became increasingly hard to manage its storage and collection because the iSoqosoqo Vakamarama bure is located on a steep hill.
In addition, Ms Sparrow was frequently answering requests to deliver the bottles to the villages and personally driving out to deliver bottles, which was never going to be a viable model for the long term.
Rotarians gets involved
Savusavu Rotary Club members Christie Bowers and Jeff Bowers got involved and proposed that the collection point be moved to town. They asked Ms Kaisau to approach the Savusavu Town Council for help, and the council immediately put her in touch with the market manager, Wame Nabete.
He organised a table for their use and waived all charges.
Ms Kaisau also enlisted the help of local taxi drivers, who have been supportive, bring in bottles to the bure at no charge.
“It’s good to find a use for these bottles,” Ms Bowers said.
“We’re helping provide a useful community service and at the same time contributing to efforts to reuse and recycle bottles – both glass and plastic.
“It’s very much a joint effort between Rotary, the iSoqosoqo Vakamarama and the town council.
“I’m happy that these bottles are being re-used and pleased to help make it happen.”