The newly established Pacific Recyclers Alliance has achieved notable advancements for grassroots recycling initiatives and the empowerment of Collection Pillars of Recycling—those actively involved in gathering recyclables—following the 4th Clean Pacific Round Table (CPRT) organized by SPREP in Tuvalu.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, which focuses on grassroots organizations, announced that this marks a significant victory for the CPR community and the wider grassroots recycling sector.
Amitesh Deo, founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation and Secretary of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, stated that one of the key outcomes of the CPRT was the formal establishment of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance. This unites six existing National Recyclers Associations to synchronize waste management and pollution control efforts throughout the Pacific, while also emphasizing the important contributions made by the Collection Pillars of Recycling in member nations.
Pacific Island Countries and Territories have been encouraged to form National Recyclers Associations to enhance membership and representation within the Alliance.
Deo expressed the Alliance’s excitement, saying, “Our voices are finally being heard.” He emphasized that recognition of the Collection Pillars of Recycling in the CPRT outcomes represents a significant triumph for the many individuals involved in collecting recyclables in Fiji and other Pacific countries.
“This acknowledgment honors the hard work and dedication of these communities, who are vital to the region’s recycling and waste management initiatives,” he added.
Deo noted that the term “Collection Pillars of Recycling,” which was initially introduced by a group of women in Vunato, Lautoka, and previously referred to as waste pickers, is now gaining recognition in the region’s literature.
This development marks an important milestone as a term originating from informal recyclable collectors gains traction in high-level policy discussions, highlighting their essential role and impact on the creation of sustainable waste management strategies across the Pacific.
He further mentioned that this recognition at the regional level not only enhances the status of informal recyclables collectors but also fortifies the framework for sustainable waste management practices. The Pacific Recyclers Alliance is dedicated to advocating for CPR and grassroots recycling organizations throughout the Pacific in the future.