PRF celebrates 1st anniversary with the launch of a brand-new website

The Pacific Recycling Foundation has launched a brand-new website to commemorate its first anniversary, an informative site that will assist individuals, groups, and organisations to understand the environmental, economic, and social benefits of recycling as well as allow them to join the growing number of recycling advocates.

PRF’s Founder, Mr. Amitesh Deo said with the launch of PRF’s website, which will play a critical role in advocating the foundation’s key messages, they are also exploring further technological advancements for environmental sustainability, and one such area is looking at practical solutions to limit the use of paper.

He said while the PRF was registered as a charitable trust on 24th May 2022, its journey started 28 years ago with its commercial arm, Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited with a clear vision of bringing recycling to Fiji.

“In its essence, Pacific Recycling Foundation is a reflection of the struggles and challenges WRFL encountered for over 28 years,” said Mr. Deo.

“When WRFL began its operation close to three decades ago, it had a corporate outlook with a money component attached to it, however when some of us who call ourselves recycling advocates joined the space around 17 years ago, realised that there is a human element attached to the industry,” said Mr. Deo.

He said the PRF is bringing to the fore the voices of these people attached to the recycling space and is also working on the human rights aspect of recycling, the element of women and LGBTQI+ groups involved in this space, as well as the aspect of advocacy, policy, and research.

According to Mr. Deo, they realised during the COVID-19 lockdown that there was an urgent need for an organisation that could provide structured support to vulnerable groups involved in waste picking, as during the lockdown, women waste pickers could not go out and collect recyclables. During this time, some women waste pickers also started experiencing domestic violence.

He said in the last 12 months, the PRF has formed strong partnerships with key stakeholders such as Government Ministries, donor agencies, development partners, corporates, and communities to advance the roles and objectives of the foundation.

Just in the first year of operations, the PRF has launched and upscaled a few first-of-its-kind recycling programs and research projects aimed at impacting mindset and behaviour towards recycling and conducted empowerment sessions for those involved in informal waste picking.

He said the PRF is also in the process of conducting a mapping exercise of the waste-picking community in Fiji which will enable the foundation to provide structured support to individuals involved in waste picking, in particular women and members of the LGBTQI+ groups on a needs basis and without creating a sense of dependency.