Japanese intern student Kokone Sugiyama is passionate about her work at the Vunato landfill in Lautoka.
She is part of the process of categorising piles of rubbish at source.
It’s about sorting through rubbish and categorising them.
That is supposed to reduce the increasing mound of garbage at Vunato.
Ms Sugiyama is a member of the Social Innovation Fiji, which often hosts groups of Japanese interns who research Fiji’s rubbish disposal issues while proposing possible solutions.
She is also part of the process of encouraging university students to visit the landfill, and to study processes and systems.
“I used to think of bringing tourists to the landfill and doing a tourism tour. It is a good idea to share what is happening in the landfill because it’s a huge problem in Fiji. But I found out that the Fiji people, the youth here do not know about what is happening there and the people here have no opportunity to go to the landfill and see.”
That drives her. It motivates her to do what she does!
In saying that, we reflect on the fact that she stands out as a catalyst for change.
“The good point of this project is letting university students know what is actually happening and letting them think about what they can do for the future.”
She is also engaged with the landfill site’s waste pickers, encouraging them to be tour guides, to better explain the inner workings of the site.
She said discussions were underway for another sustainable study program tour in September.
“So, maybe everyone in the city is responsible for the landfill problem but they don’t really know about it, so awareness and education about that is part of my goal.
“In the Vunato landfill, just plastic bottles from Fiji Water and Coca-Cola can be recycled, which means just 10 per cent of plastic bottles can be recycled.”
Ms Sugiyama said the other 90 per cent of plastic waste would remain at the landfill site.
Through her research, she has identified a major limitation in the recycling system at Vunato.
This points to the 10 per cent of plastic bottles which are recyclable.
Despite the challenges, she remains focused, optimistic and committed to initiating change, one conversation, one visit, and one sort-through at a time.
At a time when the scale of the waste problem can feel overwhelming, Ms Sugiyama stands out as a catalyst for progress and change.
She stands out as proof that passion and purpose, can initiate transformation.
We certainly need more people engaged!
