THE Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has resumed consultations with beverage and container companies to reintroduce Fiji’s container deposit regulations (CDR) by November this year.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Sivendra Michael, confirmed the development in light of the recent World Oceans Day commemorations, stressing that the ministry is serious about enforcing the long-delayed regulation aimed at tackling plastic pollution and improving waste management.
Fiji’s CDR system involves consumers paying a small refundable deposit when purchasing beverage containers such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass. The deposit is returned when the empty container is handed in at authorised collection points.
The regulation was first introduced under amendments to the Environmental Management Act in 2011 and brought into effect in 2012.
However, it was later rescinded by the previous government due to concerns from beverage companies that the proposed rates were not financially viable.
“We have been working with FIJI Water and Coca-Cola and their eight beveraging and container companies in Fiji,” Dr Michael said.
“All eight of them have been in regular consultations in our ministry to talk about the container deposits regulations.”
According to Dr Michael, the renewed discussions aim to find a rate that is acceptable to the industry while ensuring accountability for the environmental impact of imported plastic containers.
He said the ministry was also working on logistical aspects, including the setup of accessible collection points and developing a fund to address existing or “legacy” waste.
“One of the biggest issues is the legacy waste. Because you can start these container deposits regulations today but we should have a fund to be able to pay out for that legacy waste because waste already exists amongst us.”
Dr Michael acknowledged that the implementation will not be without challenges but maintained that establishing the container deposit system is a critical first step.
