SUVA United Market Vendors Association president Sakiusa Bureisarasau is calling for more awareness on proper waste management at the Suva Municipal Market.
Mr Bureisarasau said some market vendors were not properly educated on how to properly dispose off rubbish.
Responding to the issue of waste disposal, he said the Suva City Council (SCC) used to have separate bins for vegetable waste.
“Before we used to have a waste bin, but many of the vendors would fill it with other sorts of rubbish, including the public,” Mr Bureisarasau said.
“So now SCC comes once in a while with the waste bins, and they fill and take the bins back.”
He said this was an issue the association would take up to the SCC management team during its quarterly meetings.
“One thing is looking at receiving fees from the market vendors, but another they should be providing programs so the vendors can be educated on this issue.
“Because some vendors here they reach only up to Class 4 or Class 5.
“We, as an association, just started a few months ago, so all these are in the pipeline.”
Association general secretary Ilisapeci Viriki says there should be more indoor bins for the vendors to dispose off their rubbish.
“We need more bins so people can throw their rubbish in, they say according to the bylaws, we (vendors) look after our rubbish, and they look after the public rubbish.
“So, we just collect all our rubbish and take it outside to the big bins, but it would be easier if they put smaller bins inside the market for the vendors.”
Meanwhile, SCC chairman Tevita Boseiwaqa said the council was revitalising its Waste Minimisation Initiative through a new composting project that transforms vegetable waste from the Suva market. He added the council’s vision was to gradually increase production and expand waste collections to other markets.
