Pacific Recyclers Alliance Celebrates Landmark Achievements at Clean Pacific Round Table in Tuvalu, Empowering CPR & Grassroots Recyclers

The newly formed Pacific Recyclers Alliance is thrilled to announce key outcomes and significant progress for grassroots recycling efforts and the empowerment of Collection Pillars of Recycling (individuals involved in the collection of recyclables) from the 4th Clean Pacific Round Table (CPRT) organized by SPREP in Tuvalu.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance (for Grassroots Organisations), Pacific Recycling Foundation, said this is a monumental achievement for the CPR community and the broader grassroots recycling community.

PRF Founder and the Secretary of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, Amitesh Deo said the CPRT outcomes include:

1. Recognition of the establishment of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, uniting the six existing National Recyclers Associations to harmonize waste management and pollution control efforts across the Pacific
2. Support for the vital role that the Collection Pillars of Recycling play in member states
3. Encouragement for Pacific Island Countries and Territories to develop National Recyclers Associations and expand membership and representation within the Pacific Recyclers Alliance.

Deo expressed the alliance’s enthusiasm, stating, “Our voices are finally being heard”.

“The support for the role of the Collection Pillars of Recycling in the CPRT outcomes is a significant victory for the thousands of individuals engaged in the collection of recyclables across Fiji and other Pacific nations. This recognition validates the hard work and dedication of these communities, who are essential to the region’s recycling and waste management efforts,” said Deo.

Deo added, “The term – Collection Pillars of Recycling, originally coined by a group of women in Vunato, Lautoka, once referred to as waste pickers, is now being recognized in regional literature. This marks a pivotal moment as a term created by informal recyclable collectors has ascended to high-level policy discussions, underscoring their critical role and influence in shaping sustainable waste management strategies across the Pacific.”

The term CPR was introduced by the 16 women in 2022, following workshops organized by the Pacific Recycling Foundation in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, and Lautoka City Council. These workshops addressed the negative stigma associated with the term “informal waste picker” and replaced it with a more dignified and empowering identity.

Deo said this acknowledgment at the regional level not only elevates the status of informal collectors of recyclables but also strengthens the framework for sustainable waste management practices.

He said the Pacific Recyclers Alliance is committed to continuing its advocacy and support for CPR and grassroots recycling organizations throughout the Pacific.