Waste pickers 'empowered environment heroes', Smith says
INTERNATIONAL Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) regional director Mason Smith outlined four reasons the IUCN continued to support Waste Recyclers Fiji Ltd in its work with informal waste pickers.
He acknowledged the new term used to describe them that was coined by Environment Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy — "environment guardians" — and said he had a new name for the 14 women who were attending a workshop last week — "empowered environment heroes".
"First, we understand very well, the very significant role women and you play in the secular economy," he said while delivering closing remarks at the workshop in Suva last week. Secondly, we understand that you collect about 20 per cent of all the waste that is collected Fiji-wide, and that's quite a significant amount.
"And for us to be able to address the issue of environmental degradation, we understand that we have to work with you in the coming months.
"Thirdly, we understand that you have the capacity, not only to influence your families, but influence your communities and influence the public in what you do.
"Often, we look to women to save funds in the family, we often look to women to influence the direction the family takes and we understand that as part of your empowerment you will be able to go back and influence the direction, your community takes as far as waste management is concerned.
"And the final reason we continue to work with Waste Recyclers Fiji and with the other sectors, we understand you can offer that recycling solution we are looking for.
"We are looking at alternatives to things like plastics, we understand that not only do you collect plastics, you also recycle them into useful products.
"That is why we continue to work with Waste Recyclers Fiji and we are very fortunate to be able to sponsor events like this."