The Naboro Landfill story: Space for pit is fast becoming an issue
EVERY 14 MONTHS A NEW PIT IS IDENTIFIED AT THE NABORO LANDFILL. BY THE 18TH MONTH, THE OLD PIT IS FILLED. Suva alone bags 70 tons of garbage on a daily basis and at 100,000 tons of waste collected yearly, space is fast
Every 14 months, the warning bells start ringing at the Naboro Landfill.
This signals the start of the construction of a new pit at the landfill. And at 100,000 tons of waste collected yearly, space is fast becoming an issue.
“We live in a use and throw away world,” Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Joshua Wycliffe said as he summed up Fiji’s waste disposal well.
He said there has been a change in people’s behaviour influenced by consumerism.
For many Fijians, garbage collection is taken for granted. The solution to the waste in the house remains that one bin, where everything is thrown into one mix.
A contortion consisting of cans, bottles, plastics and organic matter in both solid and liquid form. Just roll it up on the street side and it clears by the afternoon.
Suva alone bags 70 tons of garbage on a daily basis.
Mr Wycliffe said a landfill pit fills up in 18 months to two years.
“The problem with that is that it is a stacking model. Waste goes on top and it is compacted and compacted until it fills up to the top,’ he said.
“We started the construction of a new pit, which we do every 18 months and it costs us about four to five million dollars. So we spend the money, look for space, dig it up and eventually we are running out of space.”
As of right now, the 100-acre Naboro Landfill is not filling.
A new pit was constructed and the final stage has been put on hold with nations in lockdown.
Specialist engineers are needed to spread the carpet at the bottom of the pit. This canvas ensured that the waste does not disintegrate.
The Ministry of Environment knows too well, that even with 100 acres an alternative method of disposal is needed.
A tender is currently in discussion which would forge a new way to dispose of Fiji’s waste. A modern day technology.
All in one
For years now, Fijians have put everything in one bin. There is no sorting at source, unlike Australia, New Zealand and even the Cook Islands.
Cans, bottles and green waste are separated and into marked bins. For this to happen in Fiji, recycling plants are needed.
This has to do a lot with the culture and habits Fiji has embraced towards garbage disposal.
Mr Wycilffe said ultimately this will have to come practice. He said the infrastructure has be set to ensure that cans and bottles are recycled.
Suva – the biggest contributor
As the biggest city in the nation and the most populated, Suva remains the biggest contributor of waste to the Naboro Landfill.
Suva and Lami special administrator Isikeli Tikoduadua said a hefty percentage of ratepayers’ money was towards garbage services.
He said Suva City had signed a partnership which would allow for a survey of Suva’s waste disposal. He said this would be followed by a recycling project.
According to the SCC boss, sorting in capital will start when that happens.
About Naboro
The anaerobic landfill was developed at a cost of about $14 million funded by the European Union.
The landfill began operations in 2005. It belongs to the Ministry of Environment and managed by HG Leach Fiji Pte Industries.
The landfill began operations in October 2005 after the closure of the Lami dump. It was estimated that landfill would have a life of at least 70 years. However, in the last decade, rubbish disposal has increased at least ten folds.
The landfill receives 184 tons of waste per day, of which the municipal councils account for about 70 per cent and waste management companies for the rest.