Local Government Minister Premila Kumar says to remove the inconsistencies and inadequacies in delivering waste management services in Fiji, the Ministry of Local Government is overseeing a pilot initiative which will see the two municipal councils of Suva and Nasinu leverage Suva’s good practice to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Kumar says under the Local Government Act, shared services can be developed between two councils.
She says the work is in progress and they would like to see that a Greater Suva Waste Collection Service is set up between Suva, Nausori, Lami and Nasinu as they move on with the Suva and Nasinu partnership.
While speaking in parliament, Kumar says municipal councils around the country have been managing solid waste services within the municipal boundaries.
She says the councils are currently serving 160 settlements in their respective extended boundaries.
Kumar says for Tavua, Rakiraki, Nadi, Sigatoka and Lautoka settlements the waste is collected from house to house.
She says for the settlements in Ba, Levuka, Labasa, Nausori and Savusavu the collection of waste is done from a collection point which varies from once a week to twice a week.
Kumar adds there is no garbage fees charged to residents in informal settlements and the councils rely on the government subsidy provided to them for the waste collection in these settlements.
She says there are some peri-urban district informal settlements and villages that pay money to private companies and individuals that collect household rubbish.
Kumar says the landfill costs are paid by respective municipal councils from the waste subsidy grant.
She says the government subsidy is $15 VAT inclusive price per tonne and the gate fee is $38.83 but the councils only pay $23.83.
