Ro Aca Mataitini, a retired civil servant, is urging the public to cease the irresponsible practice of dumping rubbish along roadways, as this habit is harming the environment and posing risks to road safety. His appeal came during a recent clean-up event, part of a weekly community initiative named Viti Clean, launched by the Redstream Maivale Foundation in Nasali, Rewa, on October 1.
The clean-up was conducted yesterday from 9 AM to noon, targeting litter along Kings Road in the Kasavu area. Ro Aca reported significant findings from their efforts, stating that in the first month alone, volunteers collected 32 bags of rubbish from the stretch between Wainibokasi Bridge and Nasali Landing, and an additional 35 bags were gathered near the Wainibokasi Hospital bus stop the following week. He expressed disbelief at the continued indiscriminate dumping by individuals, despite the evident efforts to clean the area.
To promote better waste management habits, Ro Aca has initiated a recycling program that incentivizes students by purchasing plastic bottles from them. This initiative has seen 20 primary school students actively participate, collecting approximately 5,940 bottles within just one month.
He emphasized the importance of community engagement, highlighting the contributions of individuals like Elijah Vakarau, who generously provides transportation to collect and dispose of waste properly. Ro Aca firmly stated that roadside dumping is not acceptable, urging people to utilize official dumping sites in Nausori, Nasinu, or Suva instead.
The retired civil servant pointed out that littering not only harms the environment but also poses a health threat, reiterating his call to government officials and stakeholders to take concrete actions in combating climate change and fostering ecological protection. He poignantly reminded the public as the festive season approaches to be responsible stewards of the environment, emphasizing the shared responsibility to dispose of waste correctly.
Ro Aca’s efforts and commitment to this cause reflect a growing community awareness and involvement in environmental protection, fostering hope for a cleaner and healthier future.