The Lautoka City Council’s Return & Earn Centre has recently achieved notable milestones in its recycling program, paying out $1,039 and collecting an impressive 20,780 recyclable items. This initiative, launched on January 22, has significantly contributed to the city’s ongoing sustainability efforts.
According to Shalend Singh, the head of health services, the program has effectively gathered a total of 60,641 recyclable plastic bottles and cans to date. Based on the current collection rate, it is expected that about 3.1 million beverage containers could be recycled each year in Lautoka, potentially generating around $155,000 in payouts to residents who participate in the initiative.
The council’s financial contributions to the community have also reached $3,032.05, benefitting not only local citizens but also Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPRs), previously known as waste pickers, who rely on informal recycling as a source of income. The initiative has proven beneficial for various segments of the community, including street dwellers, who can earn 5 cents for every beverage container returned.
Mr. Singh expressed his appreciation for the Ministry of Local Government and the Return and Earn Fiji organization for their pivotal roles in the initiative’s success. Return and Earn Fiji is a not-for-profit entity that consolidates the recycling efforts of eight major beverage companies into a unified, nationwide system, enhancing accessibility for families and communities.
The program involves significant collaboration with beverage companies including Carpenters (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (Fiji) Ltd, Eddie Hin Beverages Pte Ltd, FIJI Water, Frezco Beverages Pte Ltd, Motibhai and Company Ltd, Pacific Island Beverages Pte Ltd, and Pleass Global Ltd. The ongoing support from Lautoka residents has been instrumental in driving this initiative forward, marking a promising step toward sustainable waste management and community engagement.
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