THE Pacific Recycling Foundation’s inaugural VAKA forum series is well-placed to work with municipal councils because councils sit at the frontline of waste management and influence community behaviour, says Housing and Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa.
Speaking at the opening of the forum in Lautoka on Thursday, Mr Nalumisa said VAKA stood for voices, alliances, knowledge and action, and the abbreviation reflected the foundation’s aim to bring people together, share information and support coordinated efforts in recycling and waste reduction.
“I call on all municipal councils to align their waste management plans and visions with grassroots recycling organisations, like Pacific Recycling Foundation, ensuring measurable and practical implementation strategies that bring about meaningful change, which will enable you to serve your municipality more effectively,” Mr Nalumisa said.
He said the need to progressively shift towards a recycling and recovery system could help reduce long-term costs, extend landfill life, and generate economic, environmental, and social opportunities.
“Our municipal councils are in a unique position to lead this change by adopting innovative recycling approaches and helping shift communities toward long-term sustainability goals.”
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) resident representative Yumi Kimura said the forum provided an opportunity to hear directly from grassroots recyclers and discuss practical actions to make recycling more effective.
“Under JICA’s global agenda, our thematic strategy for environmental management, JICA promotes sustainable activities through the JICA Clean Cities Initiative, called JCCI, which aims to create clean cities in partner countries by enhancing capacity development and collaboration among government, citizens, and private companies,” she said.
Pacific Recycling Foundation campaigns and activities manager Dhanjay Deo said challenges that grassroots recycling organisations have faced over the last three decades prompted the inception of the VAKA series.
“Challenges in trying to lobby for support, access resources, and move towards more sustainable ways of dealing with waste,” he said.
“Despite these challenges, the collection pillars of recycling, the women and men who work at dump sites in communities and along our streets, have continued their work silently for three decades.
“They are the backbone of Fiji’s recycling movement, yet their voices are rarely heard in policy or planning spaces.”
Various stakeholders at the opening of the Pacific Recycling Foundation’s inaugural VAKA forum series at the Lautoka City Council Chambers in Lautoka on November 13,2025. Picture: SALOTE QALUBAU.
Various stakeholders at the opening of the Pacific Recycling Foundation’s inaugural VAKA forum series at the Lautoka City Council chambers in Lautoka on Thursday.
Pictures: SALOTE QALUBAU
Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa, front, 2nd from left, with various stakeholders after the opening of the Pacific Recycling Foundation’s inaugural VAKA forum series.
