The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Sivendra Michael, announced that the Fijian Government intends to revise the Litters Act of 2008 and the Environmental Management Act to combat plastic pollution in the country. Speaking at the Fiji National Symposium on Plastic Pollution, Dr. Michael highlighted that the introduction of container deposit legislation could significantly decrease the irresponsible disposal of plastic items such as bottles and containers.
Dr. Michael stated that the Prime Minister is spearheading important initiatives to enhance current regulations associated with the existing legislation. He noted that the Litters Act of 2008 serves as a foundational law but lacks comprehensive regulations, emphasizing the need to develop additional guidelines.
Furthermore, under the Environmental Management Act, efforts have already been made regarding waste and pollution control, particularly concerning waste disposal and recycling permits. While these regulations exist, Dr. Michael believes they could be further strengthened, particularly through the establishment of container deposit regulations, which would facilitate better management of plastic imports into Fiji.