A LOCAL initiative tackling plastic waste in Fiji’s waterways has expanded to include the Nasinu Town Council, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to install TrashBoom systems across key sites.
TrashBoom is a waste interception device aimed at preventing solid waste — particularly plastic — from reaching the ocean.
Since its inception, the initiative has made notable strides, including its first three installations: TB001 at Nadera under the UNDP Pacific Accelerator Lab, TB002 at the Water Authority Raw Water Catchment in Savura Cascade, and TB003 at Suva’s Nubukalou Creek.
Director of Trashboom Pacific Wayne Fuakilau described the MOU with the Nasinu Town Council as a major step forward for their SME-led model targeting plastic waste in rivers before it reaches the ocean.
The signing, he said, follows months of “countless meetings” with key stakeholders since launching the initiative with UNDP Pacific’s Accelerator Lab in 2023.
“Our interventions are only possible with the support and buy-in from Ministry of Environment & Climate Change (MECC) from the outset, especially to PS MECC CC and team.”
The TrashBoom system has already delivered visible impact: in just the first week of April, 60.5 kilograms of solid waste, mostly plastic bottles, was intercepted at Nubukalou Creek alone.
Driving a “bottom-up approach” to waste interception, Mr Fuakilau stressed the importance of working closely with Government and understanding each river’s unique behaviour.
“Within a year we’ve managed to get Government support through the MECC but this is something we’d like to expand carefully … we need to understand each river behaviour during low and high tide, heavy rainfall, current, anchor points and also collection points so accessibility is paramount. We can build a perfect system to intercept plastics, but without accessibility for collection it’ll be pointless.
“It’s not a one size fits all!”
The group is conducting brand audits and data collection based on the volume of waste captured at each TrashBoom location.
“For the waste collected so far, we’re doing our brand audits and data in terms of weight of collection per trash boom.
“This is to understand the type of awareness or waste management infrastructure needed upstream and for us to also understand the feedstock in terms of plastics recycling before we bring in machines to shred and mould or sheet press plastic waste into other value-added products for a second life.
“We’ve made some progress in working with major global brands and local brands (bottling/manufacturers) to support the initiative and this will be announced soon.”
With momentum building, Trashboom Pacific aims to replicate its model in other municipalities, bringing both environmental innovation and practical waste management to the heart of community development.
