Desperate call from communities involved in waste picking, work with PRF to look for solutions – Deo 

There is a desperate call for strategies and targeted programs to improve the living and working conditions of families engaged in informal waste picking around the country, hence the great need for relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to support our efforts, said the Founder of Pacific Recycling Foundation, Mr. Amitesh Deo.

“These groups of people need targeted assistance and empowerment programs as they have been faced with unimaginable struggles for decades including a great deal of stigma,” said Mr. Deo.

He said PRF is well placed to work with these communities and is also in the process collecting relevant data on all individuals involved in waste picking.

Mr. Deo said a team from the Foundation recently toured various parts of Viti Levu where they met and heard stories of individuals who turned to collecting and selling recyclables to put food on the table, and some are facing stigma such as rejection, discrimination and labelling from the society and even their relatives.