PRF to Bring Pacific Grassroots Recycling Perspectives to Regional Circular Policy Workshop

The Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) is set to join regional stakeholders in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from 16–18 September 2026 for the Circular Policy Co-Design Workshop & Training – an important regional platform bringing Pacific recycling and grassroots perspectives into conversations on the future of waste management and recycling across the region.

Convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the workshop creates an important space for Pacific organisations, grassroots recyclers and other stakeholders to share their experiences and contribute to regional discussions.

PRF acknowledges SPREP and ADB for convening this important regional dialogue and creating space for diverse Pacific perspectives.

The Pacific Recyclers Alliance (PRA) will also be represented at the workshop, bringing together the collective voice of grassroots recycling organisations from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Nauru. Its participation adds an important regional perspective, reflecting the shared experiences and priorities of organisations working to strengthen recycling systems across the Pacific.

At the heart of PRF’s participation will be the voices and lived experience of grassroots recyclers across the Pacific. These organisations and groups are actively involved in collecting recyclable materials within their communities, helping to strengthen local recycling systems.

For many, this work has been built through years of practical experience – learning from communities, responding to local realities and finding ways to keep recycling moving. That experience represents an important source of knowledge for regional discussions about the future of recycling.

PRF Founder Amitesh Deo said the opportunity to bring these perspectives into the regional conversation was significant.

“Grassroots recyclers have lived this reality for years,” said Deo. “They understand their communities, they understand the work, and they understand the challenges that come with it. Their experience should be heard and valued in conversations about where recycling in the Pacific goes next.”

The workshop will also provide an opportunity for PRF to bring attention to the Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPRs), recognising the role they play within communities and the importance of their experiences in the wider recycling conversation.

While grassroots recycling organisations and CPRs may have different roles, both are connected to the communities where recycling happens every day. PRF’s participation will reflect both the importance of strengthening grassroots recycling and advancing greater dignity, safety and recognition for CPRs.

“Both grassroots recyclers and CPRs are part of a much bigger picture,” said Deo. “If we want stronger recycling systems, we have to listen to the people who are already part of those systems and understand the realities they face.”

The participation of Pacific grassroots organisations is particularly important as the region considers how waste management and recycling systems can be strengthened. Past discussions have not always fully reflected the voices of organisations working directly within communities, making meaningful participation an important step forward.

“Being in the room matters, but being heard matters even more,” said Deo. “We appreciate the opportunity to bring our experience to the table and to have a meaningful conversation with others who are working towards a better future for waste management and recycling in the Pacific.”

As the advocacy arm of Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited (WRFL), PRF draws on more than three decades of operational recycling experience in Fiji. The Foundation will bring this practical experience to the regional workshop while also learning from organisations and stakeholders from across the Pacific.

“We are coming together as Pacific organisations with different experiences, but with a shared interest in seeing recycling strengthened in our communities,” said Deo. “We look forward to sharing our experience, listening to others and being part of the conversation.”

PRF will participate in the workshop alongside the Pacific Recyclers Alliance and other regional stakeholders, bringing Pacific grassroots perspectives and lived experience into discussions on the future of waste management and recycling.