PRF welcomes the appointment of new Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change

The Founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) and CEO of Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited (WRFL) Mr. Amitesh Deo has welcomed the appointment of Dr. Sivendra Michael as the new Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, saying he looks forward to working with the new Permanent Secretary in combating the waste management crisis in the country.

Mr. Deo said PRF and WRFL have partnered with the Department of Environment on several occasions and continue to do so.

“Fiji is in a waste management crisis and given the increasing issues surrounding the country’s waste management sector, it is now more crucial than ever to work closely with the Department of Environment,” said Mr. Deo.

“We continue to have a good working relationship and look forward to future collaborations.”

The PRF Founder said adopting core fundamental principles in shaping the waste management and recycling space in the country is vital and looks forward to sharing these principles with Dr. Michael in his new role as the Permanent Secretary.

Mr. Deo reaffirms that PRF and WRFL are committed to changing the waste management landscape in the country and the Pacific and on that note, has urged those planning to hold discussions on recycling to respect PRF’s principle of ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’, which is derived from the disability rights community and is also part of our Pacific culture.

He said any discussions regarding recycling and waste management are of great interest to PRF and WRFL since this has been WRFL’s core work for over 29 years.

“We represent different sectors of the recycling space and are the voice for those involved in informal waste picking. It is not possible to hold any discussion regarding recycling without the voices of the grassroots communities, especially those engaged in informal waste picking which mostly comprises women and members of the LGBTQ+ groups,” said Mr. Deo.