Lautoka women benefit from facility

A FACILITY dedicated to bringing dignity to as many as 60 women who ply their trade daily in the waste recycling collection space, was launched at Lautoka’s Vunato Landfill site yesterday.
Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa, who officiated at the launch of a decent portable kitchen and washroom facility said the event marked the continuation of efforts to provide dignity and respect to persons involved in the collection of recyclables from the Vunato Dump.
“Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPR’s) work independently or in groups, collecting, classifying, and reinserting a wide range of discarded
materials back into the economy,” Mr Nalumisa said.
“These grassroots initiatives have accumulated valuable knowledge and offer innovative perspectives on handling waste, informed and framed by their everyday experiences.
“They play an integral part in the formation of the circular economy concept.”
The minister shared that during the COVID-19 pandemic, some women waste pickers in Fiji experienced severe domestic violence.
He said at a workshop a few months later, it was revealed that the term informal waste picker was a contributing factor to the stigma and name-calling attached to the waste-picking trade, hence the name Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPR) was selected.
Mr Nalumisa said the CPR’s played a major role in the waste management sector, particularly in the area of reducing carbon footprints which helped in combatting climate change in the long run.
Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPR’s)said the launch marked a victory in terms bringing dignity to those involved in the waste-picking space.
“Victory that at least we, as a society, are able to recognise the important work that CPR communities do where collection of recyclables is
concerned,” Mr Deo said.
Mr Deo said the successful culmination of the modern facility was possible through the support of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, RC Manubhai and the Lautoka City Council.