Waste management and new opportunities

DEPUTY Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said waste management is not merely a logistical challenge but also a fundamental responsibility that intersects with the environment and the economy.

He said Fiji was already grappling as a small island developing state with the environmental crisis and “unstainable waste management only exacerbated this”.

“Moving on to the economy, waste management represents both challenges and opportunities,” Mr Gavoka said at the Pacific Recycling Foundation workshop in Suva yesterday.

“Landfills for example are not infinite or inexpensive. If they were, every town and city would have its own. The only sanitary landfill in Fiji is the Naboro Landfill – serving Suva; Lami; Nasinu; Nausori; as well as Navua and Korovou. So, it’s very much beyond capacity,” he said.

“If we transition to a circular economy, where resources are reused, recycled, or repurposed, we can create new economic opportunities, industries, and jobs – while managing waste properly.”

Mr Gavoka said the goal should be to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and to acknowledge that recycling is the next best practical option.

He said recycling about creating a circular economy by recycling, “we conserve resources, reduce energy consumption, and create jobs”.

“There are clear economic advantages of recycling. It reduces demand for raw materials, lowering production costs.

“It also generates jobs across various sectors, from waste collection and sorting to manufacturing and distribution of recycled products.”

Mr Gavoka said the Government has prioritised waste management, and noted the Ministry of Tourism was working to establish the National Sustainable Tourism Framework.

“By integrating waste management practices into sustainable tourism, we can create a harmonious balance between environmental conservation and economic prosperity.”