IN a powerful move toward inclusive environmental action, the ‘I Recycle’ program was officially relaunched yesterday at the Bykeitou informal settlement in Nadera, Nasinu highlighting a growing call to ensure recycling and waste management are not exclusive to urban centres and privileged communities.
Speaking at the event, Pacific Recycling Foundation CEO Amitesh Deo emphasised the need to shift the national approach to waste management by recognising the often-overlooked role of informal settlements in the country’s environmental landscape.
“Recycling and waste management should not be just for the privileged, just for the urban centres, and just for formal settlements. Informal settlements like Bykeitou have existed for decades, families have lived here for over 60 years, this is their home,” Mr Deo said.
The relaunch marks a step in PRF’s Look Beyond movement, which aims to ensure all Fijians, regardless of location or social status, are given equal access to environmental services and education.
Mr Deo said the initiative was about restoring dignity by making waste management services accessible and relevant to communities who had long been excluded from such programs.
“It’s also in these communities, like when we say we also have to deal with a lot of social issues,” he said.
“So, in informal settlements the priority is never waste, their priority is actually putting food on the table. So, it’s not really the bin that matters for us, it’s the program.”
He issued a nationwide call for policymakers, municipalities and citizens to rethink how waste management is approached, especially in under-resourced communities.
According to Mr Deo, the newly-installed I Recycle bin at Bykeitou comes at a cost ranging from $7000 to $9000, depending on its size and setup requirements.
