Fiji has taken another step in its fight against waste with the launch of a trashboom installation aimed at intercepting litter before it reaches the ocean.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya described trashboom as “another practical step in Fiji’s national effort to address litter, strengthen waste management, and prevent pollution from entering our marine environment.”

The trashboom, installed across a section of the river, captures bottles, packaging, diapers, toys, electronics, and other waste carried by waterways.

“All of these are thrown into our river systems by our very irresponsible citizens,” Ms Tabuya said.

She said the initiative also provided crucial data for national waste management policies.

“We are using this information to strengthen our National Plastics Inventory, which will help us map plastic flows across the country and identify priority areas for intervention.”

Ms Tabuya highlighted broader government reforms, including amendments to the Litter Act, the introduction of Container Deposit Regulations to incentivise recycling, and the finalisation of the Integrated Waste Management Strategy.

“These reforms are necessary because litter is not a minor issue. It affects public infrastructure, rivers, ecosystems, and creates avoidable costs for councils and taxpayers.

“Protecting our environment begins with the choices we make every day.”