The Next Generation (Fiji) Pte Limited says its proposed Vuda Energy-from-Waste facility will process only everyday household and commercial rubbish currently ending up in landfills.
In a statement responding to concerns raised by Assistant Minister Lenora Qereqeretabua, TNG Fiji emphasised that the plant is designed to handle non-hazardous municipal solid waste.
“This includes food and organic waste, paper and cardboard, plastics, textiles, wood, garden waste and non-recyclable residual waste that cannot be recovered,” the company said.
It stressed that these materials are the same types of waste already generated daily by communities across Fiji and disposed of in landfill sites.
TNG Fiji maintained that the facility would not accept hazardous waste under any circumstances.
“What does NOT go into an Energy-from-Waste plant includes hazardous chemical waste, medical or clinical waste, radioactive materials and industrial toxic waste,” the company said.
It added that such waste streams are governed by stricter regulatory systems and are explicitly excluded from the project’s design and operational framework.
The company said its Environmental Impact Assessment, prepared by GHD and submitted to the Department of Environment, details the classification of waste streams.
TNG Fiji also reiterated that its proposal aligns with Fiji’s obligations under the Waigani Convention, which regulates the movement and management of hazardous waste in the region.
The statement comes as debate continues over the environmental and legal implications of the proposed facility, with stakeholders closely scrutinising the type of waste to be processed and its long-term impact.
