Stakeholder Meeting Concludes with Collaborative Plan for Sustainable Waste Management in Taveuni

In a groundbreaking initiative, Pacific Recycling Foundation, in collaboration with Tourism Fiji, successfully convened the inaugural stakeholder meeting to address Taveuni’s pressing waste management challenges.

This significant event, held on July 18, 2024, in Taveuni, marks the beginning of efforts to implement sustainable and effective recycling practices in Fiji’s first outer island.

The meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael, Technical Advisor – GIZ, Vanessa Dirking, Savusavu Town Council Acting CEO, Nilesh Chand, senior government officials from the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communications, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, and Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs, members of Taveuni Tourism Association and stakeholders from various other sectors.

Together, they agreed on three pivotal components to address Taveuni’s waste management issues.

Firstly, the implementation of the Recycling on the Go (ROG) Ambassadors Program at Holy Cross College and Holy Cross Primary School. This program aims to change mindset and behaviour of students on best recycling practices, fostering environmental stewardship from a young age.

Secondly, establishing a collection point for all hotels and resorts to drop off their recyclables will form the core of the pilot hotel/resort program. This component ensures that the tourism sector actively participates in sustainable waste management, facilitating the proper collection and disposal of recyclables.

Lastly, the formation of a cooperative, comprising women and members of the LGBTQI+ community, that will be involved in the collection of recyclables in Taveuni. This initiative contributes to Taveuni’s recycling efforts and provides a source of income for the local community members, particularly from the vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The founder of Pacific Recycling Foundation, Amitesh Deo emphasised the importance of these collaborative efforts.

“We are thrilled to have successfully convened the inaugural stakeholder meeting to address Taveuni’s pressing waste management challenges. This event marks a significant milestone in our efforts to implement sustainable and effective recycling practices in Fiji’s first outer island,” said Deo.

“The collaboration of various stakeholders underscores the importance and urgency of this initiative. By bringing together such a diverse group of stakeholders, we have laid a solid foundation for collective action and shared responsibility,” stressed Deo.

He stated that the inaugural event in Taveuni is the first step in a series of actions aimed at implementing PRF’s recycling programs on the island.

Recognising the extensive work required, PRF will adopt strategic approaches to fully develop the three components of the project. Two project coordination meetings are scheduled for October 2024, after which the implementation dates are expected to be announced.