Opinion Piece – The Fiji Times
2023 Global Recycling Day celebrations with the theme ‘Plastic free Pacific – a plea’, is a call for national participation in recycling to counter plastic waste, and movement building and showing solidarity towards recycling initiatives by wearing a PIN to ensure recycling programs can continue and be upscaled.
Pacific Recycling Foundation’s ‘National Plastic Free Day’ initiative, which will be declared by the Prime Minister, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka on 18th March at the GRD celebrations at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort, encourages nationwide participation to move away from using plastic, creates awareness on the harmful effects of plastic to our environment, reduces plastic waste in Fiji and helps in making Fiji’s environment greener.
We are urging Fijians to join the recycling movement and refrain from using any form of plastic on 18th March while at home, office, or even shopping.
The second major national campaign, ‘The Wear a Pin – Support Recycling Movement’ will see the proceeds from the campaign go towards meliorating the recycling programs implemented by PRF. This will also allow PRF to expand its reach within Fiji regarding outreach programs to outer-islands and maritime areas most susceptible to the harmful effects of irresponsible disposal of recyclables, especially plastic.
GRD celebrations in Fiji is an initiative of Pacific Recycling Foundation and Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited, in partnership with Tourism Fiji, Swire Shipping, Pacific Energy and Fiji National University.
The 2023 GRD celebrations will also see the launching of the ‘I Recycle Hub’ bin concept for the tourism industry.
While most of PRF’s advocacy work is focused on change in attitude towards recycling and those involved in waste picking, the I Recycle Hub is a fundamental tool in terms of visible and practical participation in recycling.
Initially earmarked for hotels and resorts, the concept was rolled out in a school and a rural community setting, both in the care of the users. The I Recycle Hub program represents a unique concept that challenges the traditional views of recycling and aims to bring recycling to the forefront of all operations.
Organisations such as Tourism Fiji, Swire Shipping, and Pacific Energy have confirmed that they will implement the concept as part of their sustainability programs.
The I Recycle Hub concept has a monitoring and evaluation framework that collects data, provides feedback, and records lessons learned.
By implementing the I Recycle Hub, organisations will also assist in building statistics that will be shared with various stakeholders including the Government for policy development.
PRF is a rights-based organisation specially formed to raise awareness on recycling and provide structured support to individuals or groups involved in informal waste picking in Fiji and the Pacific (in particular women and members of the LGBTQI+ waste pickers involved in the collection of recyclables)