THE people of Tailevu now have a new incentive to recycle, with Return & Earn Fiji opening a collection centre at the Korovou market as the program expands its network across the country.
The new centre is the 15th Return & Earn Fiji collection point nationally and the third within the Nausori Town Council municipality, alongside the Manoca depot and Nakasi market sites.
The expansion is expected to make it easier for households, schools, businesses, market vendors and community groups along the Tailevu corridor to return eligible beverage containers, receive refunds and help reduce litter.
The opening comes as existing return and earn sites in the Nausori area continue to record strong collection numbers.
Return & Earn Fiji representative Dwain Qalovaki said the program recovered more than 180,000 beverage containers in August alone from the Manoca depot and Nakasi market centres.
“In August alone, the Manoca depot and Nakasi market return and earn centres recovered an impressive 181,909 beverage containers, comprising 63,019 plastic bottles and 118,890 aluminium cans,” Mr Qalovaki said.
“These results reflect the growing commitment of residents, businesses and community groups to the return and earn program and demonstrate the positive impact of accessible recycling facilities.”
He said the collections were also contributing towards a larger target for the Nausori municipality.
“These collections represent an important step towards the challenge I issued to the Nausori Town Council to recover over one million beverage containers every month within the municipality.”
Mr Qalovaki said the experience of existing collection sites showed that accessibility was key to increasing participation.
“We continue to see that when collection facilities are located close to where people live, work and shop, participation increases significantly.”
“Korovou will make it easier for more people to return their plastic bottles and aluminium cans, earn refunds and contribute to cleaner communities.”
Nausori Town Council’s special administrator Paula Navunisaravi said the new facility would broaden access to the program across the municipality.
“This expansion ensures more communities have access to a convenient recycling service and the financial benefits that come with it,” Mr Navunisaravi said
He added that the program was providing both environmental and economic benefits to a wide range of community members.
“Return & Earn is creating opportunities for families, students, community groups, faith-based organisations and businesses to generate additional income while helping keep our communities clean.”
The Korovou centre is expected to strengthen beverage-container recovery across Tailevu while giving residents a practical way to turn recyclable waste into refunds.
