The people of Kilikali Settlement in Nadawa will not have to dump their rubbish in the river beside their community anymore following the installation of the ‘I-Recycle Hub’ by the Pacific Recycle Foundation.
15 Kilikali recycling advocates have been trained by the PRF to monitor the use of the ‘I-Recycle Hub’ and ensure the community is disposing off rubbish in the right manner.
Raijeli Uluitavuki says waste management issues have been the core problem in the settlement for more than three decades.
Uluitavuki says she has lived in Kilikali for more than 21 years and one of their daily challenges is that they are not recognized as a formal settlement, therefore they find their own way to dispose rubbish.
She says all the 55 houses in the settlement dumped rubbish in the river.
Uluitavuki adds the implementation of the ‘I-Recycle Hub’ helps them dispose rubbish properly and lightens the burden of worrying about how and where to dispose of their daily waste.
Pacific Recyclers Foundation Founder and CEO of Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited, Amitesh Deo says we need to start treating waste management as everyone's issue and every Fijian deserves to have access to a waste management system, including informal settlements, and those that reside in rural and maritime areas.
Deo says people living in informal settlements face several challenges which might be less predominant in other communities such as high levels of unemployment, limited public infrastructure, and social issues such as domestic violence, discrimination, harassment, and stigma.
He says at PRF, they are committed to changing the landscape of waste management in Fiji holistically and this includes people living in informal sectors.
The Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Energy, Xavier Baronnet says they expect this collaboration to provide much-needed relief to the residents of Kilikali Settlement in terms of their waste management challenges.
