As we step into 2025, the Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) is intensifying its call for collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing sustainable waste management practices. Amitesh Deo, the PRF founder, emphasized that while there has been commendable progress in addressing waste management issues in Fiji throughout 2024 with partner support, significant challenges still remain.
Deo expressed that 2025 should be recognized as a pivotal year for transformative change, advocating for united efforts from various sectors to dismantle existing barriers. “This year should be the time we break down obstacles and achieve enduring transformation,” he stated.
The advancements of 2024 laid a solid foundation, including the establishment of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, which aims to enhance regional cooperation to tackle waste management challenges collectively. Furthermore, the term “collection pillars of recycling” gained acknowledgment in regional literature, providing much-needed recognition and respect to informal recyclables collectors.
The PRF also made strides by expanding recycling initiatives to Fiji’s outer islands, launching an innovative soft plastics recycling project, and successfully transitioning community recyclers to formal employment under the ‘I Recycle’ program. Over 20 organizations and communities have adopted this initiative, showcasing its widespread appeal and effectiveness.
In total, PRF’s recycling programs have successfully diverted nearly five million kilograms, or 4,837 tonnes, of recyclables from landfills in 2024, a significant achievement that marks a substantial shift towards better waste management strategies.
However, Deo pointed out that with these accomplishments also come the responsibility to address the gaps that still exist, particularly in underserved regions. The real challenge for 2025, he noted, lies in scaling up these efforts, moving away from outdated practices, and ensuring inclusive and sustainable waste management solutions.
He urged policymakers to adopt bold actions that go beyond temporary fixes, advocating for long-term partnerships with PRF. In his message to the business community, he stressed the importance of genuine corporate responsibility, urging companies to invest in sustainable practices that create systemic change and benefit future generations.
This call to action offers hope that through collaboration and determination, Fiji can achieve a more sustainable and equitable waste management system. As the PRF and its partners work together, their combined efforts may result in meaningful advancements that not only transform waste management practices but also enhance community engagement and environmental stewardship.
In summary, the Pacific Recycling Foundation’s commitment to sustainable waste management in Fiji is gaining momentum, reflecting a growing acknowledgement of environmental responsibility across sectors. By continuing to build upon past successes and addressing existing challenges, there is optimism that Fiji can pave the way toward a more sustainable future.
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