The newly established Pacific Recyclers Alliance has made notable strides in promoting grassroots recycling initiatives and empowering individuals involved in the collection of recyclables, known as Collection Pillars of Recycling. This advancement was highlighted during the 4th Clean Pacific Round Table (CPRT) convened by SPREP in Tuvalu.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, along with the Pacific Recycling Foundation, hailed this development as a significant milestone for both the CPR community and the wider grassroots recycling sector.
Amitesh Deo, Founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation and Secretary of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, emphasized that the outcomes of the CPRT included the formal recognition of the Pacific Recyclers Alliance, which brings together six existing National Recyclers Associations. This collaboration aims to streamline waste management and pollution control efforts throughout the Pacific while supporting the crucial contributions of Collection Pillars of Recycling in member states.
Pacific Island Countries and Territories are encouraged to form their own National Recyclers Associations and increase their involvement in the Alliance. Deo expressed excitement about the recognition and stated, “Our voices are finally being heard.” He noted that the acknowledgment of the Collection Pillars of Recycling in the CPRT outcomes is a significant triumph for the many individuals in Fiji and other Pacific nations who actively collect recyclables.
“This recognition validates the hard work and dedication of these communities, who play a vital role in the region’s recycling and waste management efforts,” he added. The term “Collection Pillars of Recycling,” initially introduced by a group of women in Vunato, Lautoka, who were previously known as waste pickers, is now gaining traction in regional discussions.
Deo remarked that this is a critical moment in which a term coined by informal recyclable collectors has gained prominence at high-level policy meetings, highlighting their essential contributions to sustainable waste management practices across the Pacific. He affirmed the Pacific Recyclers Alliance’s commitment to ongoing advocacy for CPR and grassroots recycling organizations throughout the region.