WASTE management in Lautoka City has been further strengthened by a Japanese-funded NGO looking to implement programs to encourage students to recycle.
Social Innovation Fiji is spearheading the programs introduced by Japanese students looking to make an impact in Fijian communities.
Social Innovation Fiji director Akifumi Kawakami said their latest program was a cash incentive waste management initiative that encouraged residents to sell their recyclables.
“In Lautoka City, we started a cash incentive program last week to encourage residents to collect bottles that can be recycled and at the same time they can make money from it by dropping off these bottles at Children’s Park,” Mr Kawakami said.
“With each drop off they will be given a stamp and if they collect a certain amount of stamps they will be paid money by the Lautoka City Council.
“We are currently working with the council and so far we are seeing a very positive response from the public.
“It is supposed to run for a week but we are working on extending that timeframe so that we can have more people involved in this program.”
He said a few more projects had been lined up by visiting Japanese students.
“We have a few programs that our students want to introduce in schools in Lautoka.
“All of these programs focus on waste management and encourages our students to come up with programs that help these communities especially young students.”
The group presented a number of their initiatives to an LCC team in Lautoka this week.
