Existing waste management requires significant upgrades - Bulitavu

Our existing waste management system requires significant upgrades.

Minister for Environment Mosese Bulitavu highlighted this during his Ministerial Statement in Parliament today and stressed that poorly managed landfills, continues to pose environmental risks that significantly affect communities.

Bulitavu says marine pollution caused by oil and grease spills also contribute to environmental risks.

He says these challenges are further compounded by limited land availability for new landfill sites, the rising cost of waste transport and disposal, and the increasing frequency of climate-related events, which disrupt an already stretched waste system.

Bulitavu highlighted that the Sustainable Waste Action in the Pacific Project Phase 2 is a three-year initiative running from 2025 to 2028.

He says it will support Fiji and six other Pacific Island countries to develop and implement national waste management policies and actions, including collection, sorting, recycling and proper disposal.

He further says that the project is also strengthening solid waste management, which includes the installation of three additional trash booms by Trust Boom Fiji, similar to the one initiated by the Ministry opposite MHCC in Suva.

Bulitavu says they will continue supporting composting and recycling initiatives in rural communities so that waste can be better managed at the source.

Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya asked whether a Sustainable Waste Management Act will be introduced to promote better practices among companies and the public.

In response, the Minister said there will be progressive work toward developing such an Act in the future.

Meanwhile, the Environment Management Act, will be tabled this afternoon.

Opposition MP Parveen Bala also questioned whether any work is being done to address the challenges municipal councils face with dump sites in their respective districts.

Bulitavu says there is ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, and discussions are underway to establish another landfill in the Western Division.