As the year 2025 begins, the Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) is urging for collective efforts to enhance the achievements of 2024 and overcome the challenges that still obstruct effective and sustainable waste management. Amitesh Deo, the founder of the Foundation, stressed that while significant progress has been made, the mission is far from complete. He believes that 2025 can be a transformative year through genuine cooperation across various sectors.
Deo remarked, “Let this be the year we break barriers and achieve lasting transformation. The accomplishments of 2024 were important steps forward, but now is the time to turn these milestones into sustainable, scalable solutions that involve every community and tackle the root causes of the waste management crisis.”
In 2024, PRF successfully established the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, a strategic move aimed at promoting regional collaboration to tackle common waste management issues. The term ‘Collection Pillars of Recycling’ was also recognized in regional literature, bringing attention to the often-overlooked informal collectors of recyclables.
Additionally, PRF has made notable progress in extending recycling initiatives to Fiji’s outer islands, launched an innovative soft plastics recycling project, and transitioned informal collectors into formal employment through the ‘I Recycle’ program. Currently, this program enjoys participation from over 20 organizations and communities.
With the combined efforts of PRF and its entrepreneurial arm, Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited, more than 60 organizations from various sectors—including finance, education, and tourism—are diverting recyclables from landfills. In 2024 alone, these initiatives successfully diverted nearly 5 million kilograms of recyclables from dumpsites and the Naboro landfill, marking a significant advancement toward improving waste management practices.
Despite these achievements, Deo acknowledges that much work remains to be done. He emphasized the necessity of addressing existing gaps, especially in underserved areas. The upcoming year poses a real challenge to expand these efforts and move away from conventional waste management strategies, ensuring that the solutions created are both inclusive and sustainable.
Deo is calling on the government for bold, transformative action in waste management, encouraging policymakers to forge long-term partnerships with PRF rather than relying on temporary fixes. He stated, “This is not the time for half-measures – the waste management crisis demands that we act decisively.”
Furthermore, he urged businesses to transcend superficial sustainability efforts and invest in long-lasting, meaningful solutions. “Corporate responsibility is not just about fulfilling a duty, but it’s about ensuring a sustainable future for all. Businesses must be accountable for their environmental impact and actively contribute to driving systemic change,” he concluded.
This proactive approach by the Pacific Recycling Foundation and its advocates signals a hopeful direction towards achieving a more sustainable and inclusive waste management system in Fiji and beyond. The push for unity in both community and corporate sectors presents an opportunity for significant improvement in environmental stewardship, making 2025 potentially a pivotal year in the movement towards lasting, positive change.
Leave a comment