Waste from Labasa Town has been washing up on the shores of Mali, as reported by local representative Tema Bui. According to Ms. Bui, there has been a notable rise in the amount of rubbish, including plastics, metals, and other debris, reaching the island in recent weeks.
“Our shore was once known for its cleanliness,” Ms. Bui stated. “Now it has become a dumping ground for trash that was not properly disposed of in Labasa Town.”
During a Wildlife Conservation Society workshop, she highlighted that nearby settlements are treating mangrove swamps as informal dumping sites. “This practice exacerbates the pollution issue, as discarded materials are clogging mangrove roots and threatening local wildlife,” she added.
In response, Joeli Veitayaki, a strategic advisor for Blue Prosperity Fiji, explained that waves can transport debris far from its original source. “While people upstream may initially escape the waste, it ultimately flows downstream,” Mr. Veitayaki noted. “The trash can accumulate at river mouths, from where the tide carries it out to sea. However, wind and currents often bring it back to shore, which is how it reaches this island.”
Mr. Veitayaki condemned public dumping as both unnecessary and unacceptable.