THE Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is amending waste and recycling regulations to introduce different fines based on the type and environmental impact of waste.
Ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Sivendra Michael confirmed that the review covered waste disposal and recycling regulations, including controls on plastics brought into the country, and aims to introduce a more structured penalty system based on how hazardous different types of waste are.
“We are currently reviewing our waste and recycling regulations,” he said.
“The Ministry regulates waste disposal and recycling permits, as well as plastics entering Fiji.”
He said the proposed amendments would categorise waste and apply different fines depending on the level of environmental and chemical risk posed.
“We are trying to amend our legislation to ensure that the different categorisations of waste have different types of fines, based on the most hazardous and chemical, the most environmental impact, to the least, like green waste, white goods, and so forth.”
He said the review process had already gone through two rounds of national consultations, with further consultations planned for the Central Division, followed by the outer islands.
“We’ve done the North and the West, and we will have to go to the outer islands as well to also hear from them and their challenges.”
Once consultations are completed, Dr Michael said recommendations for the amendments would be submitted to the Solicitor-General’s Office for drafting before being taken to Cabinet for endorsement.
He said the regulations would come into force once approved by Cabinet, noting that regulations are not passed through Parliament.
Mr Michael also highlighted that there are currently no regulations under the Litter Act 2008, but said a draft regulation had now been completed.
“That regulation draft is complete. It’s focusing on littering, waste disposal and recycling.”
