The Lautoka City Council’s Return & Earn Centre has made notable progress in its recycling efforts, recently disbursing $1,039 and collecting an impressive 20,780 recyclable items since its launch on January 22. The program has played a crucial role in the city’s initiative to encourage recycling, amassing a total of 60,641 recyclable bottles and cans to date.
Shalend Singh, head of health services, expressed optimism regarding the program’s potential impact, estimating that approximately 3.1 million beverage containers could be collected annually in Lautoka. This would mean around $155,000 could be returned to citizens who engage with the program. Since its inception, the council has distributed $3,032.05, benefiting not only residents but also individuals involved in informal recycling, including the Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPRs) and street dwellers who receive 5 cents for each container returned.
Singh highlighted the collaborative effort with the Ministry of Local Government and Return and Earn Fiji, underlining the initiative’s community-driven support. Return and Earn Fiji is a not-for-profit organization that fosters coordination among eight beverage companies to establish a unified recycling system across the nation. This partnership aims to improve recycling accessibility for families and communities throughout Lautoka.
Participating beverage companies, including Carpenters (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (Fiji) Ltd, Eddie Hin Beverages Pte Ltd, FIJI Water, Frezco Beverages Pte Ltd, Motibhai and Company Ltd, Pacific Island Beverages Pte Ltd, and Pleass Global Ltd, have joined forces to promote this initiative.
This ongoing collaborative effort not only enhances recycling rates in Lautoka but also enriches the local community by providing financial incentives for embracing sustainable practices. The Return & Earn program represents a significant step toward improving environmental responsibility while uplifting and engaging members of the community.