Fiji needs a unified national framework to eliminate confusion and streamline recycling efforts across local communities, says Lautoka City Council head of services Shalend Singh.
Speaking on local sustainability initiatives, Mr Singh said while various stakeholders were actively tackling waste management, the absence of a standardised government structure created overlap and uncertainty.
“What we see is that councils are doing recycling and waste management initiatives on their own,” he said.
“We have NGOs, CSOs, faith-based organisations, schools, and central government initiatives. What we want to see is an integrated solid waste management system in Fiji.”
Mr Singh said major point of confusion remained the future structure of a national container deposit system.
Without clear government intervention, organisations will continue operating isolated programs rather than following a single strategy.
“When are we going to have a structure that everybody will follow.
“Unless there is a government-initiated approach across Fiji, we will keep doing our own thing.”
