The recent fires at the Vunato Dumpsite in Lautoka has raised environmental concerns and prompted urgent calls for tighter security and stronger waste management oversight.
The Ministry of Environment says it will conduct a full compliance check on waste handling and management at the Vunato dumpsite to prevent similar occurrences in future.
They say these checks will also extend to other dumpsites across Fiji to ensure they operate in an environmentally responsible manner.
The Ministry says that, as required under the Environment Management Act 2005, all dumpsites operating in Fiji must hold both a Waste Disposal Permit and a Solid Waste Dump Permit from the Department of Environment.
They say they are also working on rehabilitating existing dumpsites in the Western Division and identifying and developing a new landfill site.
This is being done in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, and with support from the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme.
The Ministry says rehabilitating current dumpsites is expected to improve environmental and health conditions for nearby communities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and establish a framework for effective waste flow into a new regional landfill.
