Six compost bin solutions were recently handed over to four settlements in Labasa and are expected to address improper waste management practices and its harmful health effects on the communities.
The composting solutions were handed over to Naseakula, Naqai, Wasavulu and Nacula settlements by the Ministry of Environment and is expected to benefit 1,000 members across the four settlements.
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment, D. Mahendra Reddy said the Ministry of Environment has been working closely with various communities Fiji wide, providing support through composting solutions and relevant training modules on composting.
“The Ministry envisages that sharing composting knowledge, and encouraging communities to separate their waste and convert it into useful resources will benefit all of us in the long run,” Dr Reddy said.
“Composting helps reduce waste going to our landfills. Rather than throwing certain food or yard waste in the trash, you can compost it. This allows it to return naturally to the earth and reduces the amount of waste in landfills – sometimes as much as 60 per cent of the waste generated can be composted as these are mostly organic in nature. It may also help a person save money on waste collection costs,” he said.
The Turaga-ni- Koro of Naseakula village, Rauwate Tadai while receiving the compost bins thanked the Ministry of Environment for the initiative stating that it will benefit youths who will now have organic manure for their farms.
He also said the compost generated will be a source of income for the villagers further complementing their livelihood.
The Ministry is expected to provide similar composting solutions to other settlements and communities in the coming days.
