Total waste management costs incurred by all Municipal Council last year was $3.3 million

The total waste management costs incurred by all Municipal Council last year was $3.3 million.

This has been highlighted by the Director of Local Government, Bindula Devi while making a presentation at the World Consumer Rights Days organised by the Consumer Council of Fiji at Suvavou House.

Devi says in 2018 the cost was $3.6 million.

She says this does not include the Government subsidy that was provided to the councils which was $1.5 million for 2018/2019.

Devi says the government allocated $3 million as a subsidy for solid waste management for 2019/2020.

She adds for this financial year, the Ministry of Local Government has allocated $1.6 million to the Nasinu Town Council to subsidize the cost of waste management.

Devi says in 2018 /2019, government had announced the Special Daily Collection Programme with the subsidies provided to Nasinu Town Council.

The Director says the municipal councils are working towards managing waste in their communities and raise awareness on waste management. She says however, it is important that as consumers we are responsible for out actions adding we must do the right thing to ensure we have a safe and clean environment and that there is no wastage.

Devi further adds the councils with the assistance from JICA are currently formulating their Solid Waste Management Master Plan to analyse the current waste management practices, identify challenges in terms of waste generations and outline a long term management plan to tackle challenges identified based on expected social and economic conditions.