Fiji has become the first country in the world to receive specialized equipment for a pilot project focused on converting unsorted and uncleaned plastics into useful products. This initiative, spearheaded by the Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development (CATD), is part of a larger effort to improve waste management strategies within Fiji.
Rob Denney, a representative from CATD, confirmed this progress following a recent parliamentary statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Biman Prasad, which stressed the urgent need for enhanced waste management in Fiji. Denney highlighted that CATD’s Zero Emissions Shipping Project marks a crucial advancement toward a more efficient waste management system in the country.
The newly imported equipment will enable the processing of different types of plastic waste at the local level, including in villages, schools, and resorts. Denney mentioned plans for a large plant at Naboro capable of converting all of Fiji’s waste plastic, including materials currently on-site.
The process involves shredding, melting, and compacting mixed plastics, then encasing them with a woven outer layer. Items produced through this method include frisbees sheathed in cotton, bowls crafted from potato sacks, and signposts and cricket stumps made from fiberglass. The rods, signposts, and cricket stumps are extruded, while other products are pressure molded using inexpensive aluminum molds.
Denney indicated that the products created from this method demonstrate consistent properties and can be further customized. One significant advantage of this process is that the outer layers protect the plastic from UV exposure, thus preventing it from breaking down into microplastics. The technology also allows for versatility in the size and shape of the produced items.
Fiji’s initiative has attracted international attention, with confirmed orders for signposts to be exported to Australia. Denney noted that CATD has established Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with various resorts, schools, and local governments to supply plastic waste and purchase the finished products. Additionally, CATD recycles all its kitchen waste, generating 50 percent of the gas necessary to support 112 students.
The organization is also innovating low-cost, village-friendly mud brick housing, glass crushers, and composting toilets.