PRF’s First VAKA Forum Commences with Municipal Councils

Pacific Recycling Foundation’s first VAKA Forum commenced today with Municipal Councils at the Lautoka City Council Chamber, marking the beginning of a national series of dialogues designed to strengthen Fiji’s journey towards sustainable and circular waste management.

The event, co-hosted by JPRISM, brought together CEOs and Special Administrators of all municipal councils. The Chief Guest was the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Honourable Maciu Nalumisa.

PRF Founder, Amitesh Deo, said the VAKA Forum with Municipal Councils is the first in a national series that directly tackles one of Fiji’s most pressing environmental contradictions – the continued reliance on landfilling and dumping as primary waste management solutions.

“If Fiji is truly committed to sustainability and the global Sustainable Development Goals, we cannot continue to depend on methods that are unsustainable,” Deo said.

“Landfills and dumpsites are not just expensive to maintain; they destroy ecosystems, release methane, and pollute our oceans. Every landfill has a lifespan, and with the rate we are generating waste, that lifespan is getting shorter and more costly.”

Deo noted that while landfilling is often viewed as a solution, it is in fact part of the problem, and that meaningful progress will only come when we shift our focus to recovery, recycling, and transparency.

“Every landfill and dumpsite represents both an environmental and economic burden. Fiji spends millions of dollars every year rehabilitating landfill cells and dumpsites. The only materials that should ever end up there are those that cannot be recovered or recycled in any form,” Deo said.

“Through this forum, we want to work with the councils to make that transition – to move from disposal to recovery, and from short-term fixes to long-term circular systems.”

Deo added that the VAKA Forum Series represents a new era, one that ensures we are talking with each other. It is about breaking down silos, creating shared accountability, and building systems that reflect our values of people before profit and do no harm.

The PRF Founder said, starting the series with Municipal Councils was deliberate, as councils form the frontline of waste management.

“Municipal Councils are the heartbeat of our cities and towns. The decisions made at this level directly influence how communities experience waste management and sustainability. Today’s forum is about recognising that reality, and building stronger partnerships to act on it,” said Deo.

The VAKA Forum Series – which stands for Voices, Alliances, Knowledge, and Action will continue over the coming months across various sectors, including the Tourism Sector, Collection Pillars of Recycling, Members of Parliament and Permanent Secretaries, and Academic, Development, and Brand Partners. Further forums are planned with Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Civil Society Organisations, and Religious Organisations.

Today’s forum also featured a special “Vision Mountain” unveiling – symbolising the peaks, valleys, and vision of Fiji’s grassroots recyclers.