Fiji has taken a concrete step toward evidence-led action on plastic pollution with the establishment of a baseline plastics data inventory, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Sivendra Michael announced at a follow-up workshop in Lami. Speaking at the event, organised in partnership with the University of New South Wales, Dr Michael said strengthening national data systems is vital for developing effective policies to respond to growing pollution challenges across the country.
The Lami workshop brought together government agencies, researchers, development partners and key stakeholders to improve coordination and the use of information related to plastics and waste management. It follows a national workshop held in October 2025 that identified major gaps in Fiji’s plastics and waste data systems and flagged the need for closer collaboration among institutions. Organisers said the new baseline inventory—designed to monitor the flow of plastics across Fiji—will provide the foundation for a formal National Plastics Inventory to guide policy decisions and waste management initiatives.
Dr Michael stressed that reliable, accurate data is crucial for identifying priority areas, evaluating policy options and tracking the impact of environmental programmes. He also highlighted growing public concern about litter and waste accumulating on streets, in rivers and along coastal areas, a pressure that officials say makes timely data collection and sharing especially important for targeted interventions.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is already progressing a package of reforms to strengthen Fiji’s response to plastic pollution. Those reforms include a review of the Litter Act, the development of Container Deposit Regulations, and work on a National Integrated Waste Management Strategy. Officials at the Lami workshop said the baseline inventory will help shape these reforms by revealing where plastics originate, how they move through the economy and where interception or recycling efforts will have the greatest return.
The move toward a structured plastics inventory builds on other national and international initiatives aimed at reducing marine and terrestrial litter. Previous ministry briefings have cited studies estimating Fiji generates several thousand tonnes of plastic waste annually, with a notable proportion escaping into the environment—figures that underscore the need for better measurement and management across the plastic life cycle. Partners such as the University of New South Wales were credited at Lami for technical support in data system design and stakeholder engagement.
Officials at the workshop indicated the inventory will be updated regularly and integrated with existing monitoring efforts to ensure it informs regulatory timelines and investment decisions, such as the rollout of container deposit schemes and improved waste interception technologies. The Ministry framed the work as part of a broader push to safeguard the vanua and protect Fiji’s environment for future generations, while committing to continued collaboration with academia, donors and the private sector to close data gaps and accelerate reforms.
Leave a comment