The Japanese Government has given $170,504 to the Sigatoka Town Council for the procurement of a five-tonne garbage compactor truck.
Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar says this will help reduce costs as the Sigatoka Town Council has been paying around $70,311 a year to a private company.
Kumar says this will benefit 297 ratepayers and more than 500 businesses houses in Sigatoka Town.
To date, Japan has provided 12 garbage compactor trucks to municipal councils.
The Charge d'Affairs of Japan to Fiji Hada Tsuguyoshi says under the Grassroots Human Security Project they have implemented 392 projects worth more than US$28 million so far.
Tsuguyoshi says he is confident that this new truck will address the challenges faced by the Sigatoka Town Council due to the expansion of its waste collection service area.
