The Fiji government has moved to overhaul the country’s litter laws, signalling tougher penalties and stronger regulatory measures as public frustration grows over visible rubbish in streets, rivers and along the coast. Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael announced yesterday at a workshop at Novotel Suva Lami Bay that the ministry is initiating a formal review of the Litter Act to update enforcement provisions and improve compliance.
Dr Michael said the review will consider higher fines for littering and illegal dumping to deter irresponsible waste disposal, and will be part of a broader package of reforms to tackle plastic pollution and strengthen national waste systems. He told workshop participants that recent videos circulating on social media showing people dumping rubbish directly into the environment had intensified calls for stricter action and highlighted weaknesses in current enforcement.
Alongside tougher penalties, the ministry is developing regulations for a container deposit scheme that would attach a refundable value to beverage containers to encourage returns and boost collection rates. Officials are also assessing regulatory measures aimed at problematic single-use plastics, including the prospect of targeted bans or phased removals of selected items. These measures will be supported by work on a National Integrated Waste Management Strategy designed to improve waste prevention, recycling and disposal across the country.
The enforcement push builds on earlier initiatives to increase on-the-ground capacity. In January the ministry outlined plans to train more than 500 Litter Prevention Officers (LPOs) by June 2026; at that time Dr Michael said 287 officers from various government sectors had completed training, with recent cohorts including personnel from the Fiji Police Force and the Land Transport Authority. Strengthening legal penalties, he said, must be paired with more robust enforcement capacity to be effective.
Workshop organisers emphasised that the legal and regulatory changes would be coordinated with data and monitoring improvements. The event at Novotel Suva Lami Bay was presented as part of efforts to strengthen Fiji’s national data systems, enabling better tracking of litter and waste flows that can inform targeted enforcement and policy decisions.
Environment advocates welcomed the move but urged swift, clear timelines and community engagement to ensure measures are practical and equitable. Business and tourism operators, who already face pressure to reduce waste, will be watching closely to see which single-use items may be targeted and how a container deposit scheme will be administered.
The ministry has not yet released a timeline for the Litter Act review or for formal proposals on penalties and bans. Dr Michael indicated the measures are under active assessment and that the draft National Integrated Waste Management Strategy will guide the next phase of regulatory work and implementation planning. If adopted, the changes would mark the most comprehensive update to Fiji’s approach to litter and plastic management in recent years.
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