221.5kg of unsorted recyclables consisting of 15.5kg of PET bottles, 68kg of various types of plastic, and 138kg of general waste were collected by Pacific Recycling Foundation and Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited teams in just the span of two hours during their clean-up exercise along Koronivia Road.
While raising serious concerns, PRF’s Founder and CEO of Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited, Amitesh Deo says they are astounded and disturbed by the behaviour of some members of the public who are treating the environment like their toilet or dumpsite which is gross and a violation of our rights to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
Deo says during their cleanup, massive amounts of recyclables and general waste including urine-filled bottles were removed from just a few sections of the Koronivia Road and adjacent drains.
He adds they were shocked to see that people had dumped bags full of diapers, plastic, and glass bottles, wrappers, takeaway boxes, tin and aluminum cans, and sacks full of mussel shells.
Deo says this behaviour only goes to confirm a great loss of civic pride and a no-care attitude towards the environment and maybe we have to start discussing the need to have more public washroom facilities, especially for the travelling public who are stuck in traffic for a long time.
He says they are well aware that many other roads, drains, and communities are being treated like dumpsites.
According to Deo, improper disposal of waste materials particularly plastic waste is also one of the main reasons for flash flooding during heavy downpour in Koronivia, which causes unnecessary inconvenience as well as damage to the infrastructure.
