Pacific Recycling Foundation
Pacific Recycling Foundation, an offshoot of Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited is a rights-based organisation specially formed to raise awareness on the best practices of recycling and proper waste management and provide structured support to individuals and groups involved in informal waste picking in Fiji and the Pacific (in particular women and members of the LGBTQI+ community).
In many essences, the PRF is a reflection of all the struggles and challenges its commercial arm, WRFL encountered for three decades.
The PRF’s key area of focus deals with changing the mindset and behaviour of our communities on the best practices of recycling through tailor-made programs as well as implementing waste management and recycling programs that have a monitoring and evaluation framework which collects data, provides feedback, and records lessons learned. This will contribute to the development of a core blueprint for other recycling projects in the region. The PRF is also engaging in studies and research work with its partners to find solutions and ideas on sustainable recycling, upcycling and downcycling projects for Fiji and the region, and the collection of recyclables from remote and maritime areas.
Through its advocacy work, the PRF is also trying to create knowledge of the environmental, economic, and social benefits of recycling.
Since 2019, the PRF has taken some strategic steps to lay the foundation for recycling and proper waste management at the grassroots level. This has been done through the PRF’s tailor-made recycling programs for communities, schools, and at the corporate level.
This was also a period of listening, empowering, and amplifying the voices of those involved in informal waste picking, particularly the marginalized. The PRF through the support of its partners continues to work toward improving the working and living conditions of those involved in the informal waste collection sector.
The PRF is also working toward changing the landscape of waste management in Fiji holistically and through its “Look Beyond” movement-building approach, is working to ensure recycling and waste management solutions are for everyone and not based on social status, skin colour, ethnicity, and so forth.
PRF’s 3 ‘A’s Approach
PRF’s strategic plan reflects the adoption of a holistic approach acknowledging the flow of resources/ recyclables and non-recyclable wastes, connecting the dots across the system, players, and actors, including government, and partners, summarised in Figure 4. This framework was translated into a ‘3As’ operational approach to achieve desired outcomes.
The 3 “A’s approach recognises that to achieve sustainable waste management, a change in attitudes and mindsets of everyone in the country is required where they, individually and collectively, have a responsibility and duty of care towards a sustainable environment and inclusive society. It also recognises that no single activity can alone produce the desired outcomes of a clean and sustainable environment or social justice for CPR.
That is, to achieve the desired goal of sustainable waste management for a circular economy, change in mindset must translate into behavioural changes, and the implementation of a program of activities designed, and sequentially implemented, for sustainable impacts. This 3 ‘A’s’ approach also recognises that no one person alone can solve the wicked problem of SMW, which will require a holistic management system. Collaboration and partnership across a range of stakeholders (waste producers, consumers, collectors, recyclers, and communities are also essential, acknowledging their respective roles in waste generation, collection, and recycling, as well as the government playing its part to create the enabling policy, legislative and regulatory environment for everyone to ‘do the right’ thing. Fiji as a developing country would also require financial and technical support along that chain to also bring about impactful outcomes.
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Why was PRF formed?
PRF was formed to raise awareness on issues in the recycling space and the grassroots communities involved in informal waste picking.
What happens to the recyclables that are collected through the I Recycle Hub bins?
These recyclables are taken to Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited’s yards in Lami and Lautoka for sorting and processing and later shipped to overseas partners for recycling.
Which waste materials can be recycled?
Paper, cardboard, PET bottles, tin cans, aluminum cans, and metal.