MORE than thirty years of waste recycling data in Fiji collected by Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited (WRFL) will now be digitised
WRFL and its rights-based offshoot Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF), convened their inaugural Data Digitalisation Workshop in Nadi yesterday to set this work in motion.
“For more than three decades, data collection has been a fundamental part of WRFL’s recycling operations,” the companies said in a statement.
“Every recyclable collected, sorted and processed has contributed to understanding recycling trends, measuring environmental impact, and supporting operational decisions.
“However, as recycling programmes have expanded and the volume and diversity of recyclables have increased, data collection and processing have remained largely manual, relying heavily on spreadsheets and paper-based systems that are increasingly time-consuming and prone to human error.”
The workshop, they added, marked the beginning of a long-term process to transition these manual systems into a customised digital platform that will improve the efficiency, accuracy and accessibility of recycling data across the organisation.
PRF founder Amitesh Deo said data has always been central to the organisation’s work, but modernising the way it is collected and managed has become increasingly important.
“Evidence-based decision-making has always guided our work. As recycling programmes continue to grow, so too has the amount of data we collect every day,” he said.”This workshop is the first step towards transforming a labour-intensive manual process into a digital system that will improve efficiency, reduce errors, strengthen reporting and ultimately help inform better policy, investment and environmental decision-making.”
The workshop is being facilitated by University of New South Wales researcher and lecturer Dr Shiva Abdoli through research funding secured to support the initiative.
“This workshop brings together industry, researchers, and stakeholders to establish a shared understanding of Fiji’s recycling data landscape,” she said.
“By working collaboratively, we can identify opportunities to improve data quality, accessibility, and decision-making, creating a foundation for future innovation and more effective recycling systems.”
