Ro Aca Mataitini, a retired civil servant, is making a passionate plea to the public to stop the irresponsible practice of littering along roadways, which he believes is damaging the environment and endangering road safety. His call to action came during a recent clean-up initiative called Viti Clean, launched by the Redstream Maivale Foundation in Nasali, Rewa, on October 1.
The clean-up took place yesterday from 9 AM to noon, focusing on Kings Road in the Kasavu area. Ro Aca reported that, over the first month of the initiative, volunteers managed to collect an astonishing 32 bags of rubbish from the area between Wainibokasi Bridge and Nasali Landing, followed by an additional 35 bags near the Wainibokasi Hospital bus stop the following week. He expressed dismay at the ongoing indiscriminate dumping by some individuals, despite the community’s visible efforts to tidy the environment.
In an effort to encourage better waste management practices, Ro Aca has started a recycling program aimed at primary school students, incentivizing them by purchasing plastic bottles. This initiative has already seen participation from 20 students, who collectively gathered about 5,940 bottles in just one month.
Ro Aca underscored the importance of community involvement, acknowledging contributions from individuals like Elijah Vakarau, who provides transportation for waste collection and disposal. He firmly stated that roadside dumping is unacceptable and urged everyone to utilize official disposal sites in Nausori, Nasinu, or Suva.
Highlighting the dual threat of littering to both the environment and public health, Ro Aca called on government officials and stakeholders to implement effective measures to combat climate change and promote ecological preservation. As the festive season approaches, he reminded people of their responsibility to care for the environment and dispose of their waste properly.
Ro Aca’s dedication and efforts signal a rising awareness and active community participation in environmental protection, fostering optimism for a cleaner and healthier future.