Fiji’s waste management strategy is founded on a waste hierarchy that emphasizes reduction, reuse, and recycling before considering disposal or energy recovery. This framework is affirmed by Dr. Sivendra Michael, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in response to growing concerns over an upcoming waste-to-energy (WtE) project at Vuda Point in Lautoka, led by The Next Generation (Fiji) Holdings Pte Limited, which includes both local and international investors.
As community members and NGOs voiced their apprehensions regarding potential adverse effects on recycling efforts due to the WtE plant, Dr. Michael acknowledged the validity of these concerns. He emphasized that the Ministry is committed to ensuring that any energy-from-waste initiative aligns with the country’s broader waste management goals. Fiji’s National Integrated Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy advocates for maintaining a focus on waste minimization and recycling above energy recovery.
According to Dr. Michael, any proposed WtE project is required to prove that it will not detract from waste reduction, reuse, or recycling targets. The Ministry is also advancing preventive measures, such as banning problematic plastics to decrease overall waste creation.
The introduction of the WtE project is relatively novel for Fiji. During the first day of public consultations, a substantial number of Vuda residents engaged in discussions alongside representatives from the Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF). PRF founder Amitesh Deo voiced his concerns regarding the environmental and community health consequences of such a project. He stressed that any waste-to-energy initiative should complement, rather than compete with, recycling efforts.
Deo underscored that with Fiji’s already low recycling rates, diverting recyclable materials to energy recovery could hinder progress rather than promote it. He called for transparency regarding the types of waste the facility would process and insisted that it should only handle residual waste once all recyclable and compostable materials had been extracted.
A pressing concern for residents is the current waste collection system, which often leads to mixed waste being dumped without proper sorting or diversion. Deo warned that if the WtE facility relies on waste for its operation over the coming decades, there is a significant risk that recyclables will be sent to the plant instead of being processed correctly.
The ongoing dialogues reflect community engagement in shaping Fiji’s waste management future. The Ministry’s commitment to addressing these concerns and balancing energy needs with environmental sustainability presents an opportunity for healthy dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders. This collective approach may pave the way for improved waste handling practices that respect both the environment and the community’s health and livelihoods.