The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Sivendra Michael, announced that the Fijian Government intends to review 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 emphasized that the introduction of container deposit legislation could significantly reduce the irresponsible disposal of plastic items such as bottles and containers.
He stated, “There are significant plans in place led by the Prime Minister to review the existing legislation and introduce new regulations for the Litter’s Act.” Currently, the Litters Act of 2008 serves as a primary legislation but lacks subsequent regulations that need development, according to Dr. Michael.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the Environmental Management Act covers waste and pollution control, including waste disposal and recycling permits, and while these regulations exist, there is room for improvement. Strengthening these regulations may include implementing container deposit measures to better manage the lifecycle of plastics entering the country.