The revelation that many business owners in Suva are calling for more public awareness about the litter problem in the Central Business District will attract attention.
A recent survey by The Fiji Times revealed that the majority of business owners in the area had been taking responsibility for the litter outside their shops.
Despite their best efforts though, a persistent issue remains; customers and homeless people are still disregarding available waste disposal options, and littering.
The survey, which sought to gauge how businesses viewed littering in the city and how they manage the problem, found that most shop owners actively clean the areas in front of their establishments.
A business owner, who had been operating in the area for more than two decades, said that while rubbish bins were provided outside their shops, many customers still chose to discard their waste on the ground.
“We see little pieces of receipts outside the shops. We sweep them up every morning.
“We would appreciate it still for the cleanliness and civic pride if customers could use the bins that are just outside of our stores. It’s not that hard, it’s just outside the shop.”
Business owners were, however, quick to acknowledge the support of the Suva City Council, which collects larger waste on a regular basis.
Again, this is an issue that shouldn’t be difficult to address.
But that’s far from the truth.
The reality is that people litter.
We have litterbugs.
We have people who will give no second thought to discarding their rubbish anywhere they want to.
It does not bother them at all!
Try walking along the waterfront in Suva.
Notice how rubbish is thrown all over the place, sometimes near provided rubbish bins.
It is frustrating.
And it questions how much value people, or some of us, place on our environment.
Littering is not a new issue, but it is one that continues to challenge the civic pride of many Fijians.
In fact when you think about it, it is a problem that should not be difficult to solve.
Some of us may argue that it’s a matter of convenience, while others may point to a lack of civic education or awareness about the environmental impact of littering.
These explanations don’t excuse the behaviour!
It is clear there is a disregard among some of us for the value of a clean and well-maintained environment.
Perhaps the solution is much more than just providing rubbish bins.
We need a change in mindset.
We need people taking responsibility for their actions.
We need people having pride in their city, and their surroundings.
Perhaps we should be reflecting on respect, beauty and appreciation of our surroundings!
