As we enter 2025, the Pacific Recycling Foundation is urging a collective effort to enhance the advances made in 2024 and to tackle the challenges that persist in effective and sustainable waste management. Amitesh Deo, the founder of the Foundation, emphasizes that while significant progress has been made in addressing Fiji’s waste management issues, the journey has not reached its conclusion. He advocates for 2025 to be a pivotal year where genuine, cross-sector collaboration results in lasting change.
Deo stated, “Let this be the year we break barriers and achieve lasting transformation. The accomplishments of 2024 were important steps forward, but we must now turn these milestones into scalable solutions that encompass all communities and tackle the essential issues perpetuating the waste management crisis.”
In 2024, the Foundation initiated the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, which plays a crucial role in promoting regional cooperation on common waste management challenges. The acknowledgment of the ‘Collection Pillars of Recycling’ in regional discussions has also brought much-needed recognition to informal collectors of recyclables.
The Foundation made notable progress in expanding recycling initiatives to Fiji’s outer islands, launched an innovative soft plastics recycling project, and transitioned workers under the ‘I Recycle’ program into formal employment. This program has gained acceptance from over 20 organizations and communities, contributing significantly to recycling efforts.
With the support of its entrepreneurial arm, Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited, the Foundation now collaborates with over 60 organizations from diverse sectors—including finance, education, informal settlements, and tourism—actively diverting recyclables from landfills. In 2024 alone, they successfully diverted nearly 5 million kilograms of recyclables from dumpsites, indicating a major shift toward responsible waste management practices.
However, Deo stresses that this progress is merely a starting point. He highlights the need to focus on existing gaps, particularly in underserved regions, as the real challenge for 2025 will involve expanding current efforts and transitioning from outdated waste management practices to inclusive and sustainable solutions.
Deo has called on the government to take decisive and bold actions to enhance waste management by partnering with the Foundation to emphasize long-term solutions rather than transient fixes. He urges businesses to go beyond superficial sustainability measures and to commit to genuine, long-lasting solutions that encompass environmental accountability and responsibility.
This perspective from the Pacific Recycling Foundation exemplifies a hopeful vision for the future, urging all sectors of society to contribute toward a more sustainable world. It highlights the collective strength and determination required to overcome the significant challenges posed by waste management while fostering a culture of responsibility and sustainability.
In summary, the foundation’s appeal serves as a rallying cry for cohesive action as Fiji looks to shape a comprehensive and effective waste management strategy, improving both ecological health and community welfare.
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