Waste Recyclers celebrates 28th birthday with informal waste pickers

Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited is celebrating their 28th birthday with informal waste pickers in Lautoka as they are one of the most important and key stakeholders in the country.

Director and CEO Amitesh Deo says they got into the business when recycling was a relatively new and alien concept in Fiji.

He says they began in this business before it became fashionable and they have remained committed to the cause despite the ups and downs we have faced along the way.

Deo says despite the lack of stakeholder support and legislative framework and the stigma attached to recycling and waste management sector, they have never backed down.

He adds apart from the legislative challenges and limitations, Fijians views towards recycling had also been a huge challenge.

The CEO says in the past 28 years they have made a concerted effort towards changing Fijian mindsets and behaviours in terms of how they disposed of their rubbish.

He says another challenge came from businesses involved in waste management, when recycling became a “fashionable” aspect of waste management, waste collecting companies classified themselves as ‘recyclers’ – despite not conducting any form of recycling activity at all.

Deo says they remain committed to the cause and was very proud of recent initiatives put in place to take recycling and waste management to the next level.

The CEO has highlighted they have the I-Recycle Hub that is getting a lot of traction in resort properties and other businesses and they also have the Recycling On the Go Ambassadors which is a partnership with Swire Shipping and Jai Narayan College, where 24 students have put up their hands to engage in and lead recycling efforts in the school, at home and in their communities.

He adds they believe these two initiatives will go a long way towards changing mindsets and influencing behaviours and make Fiji a better place in terms of having a pristine environment and cleaner surroundings.

Deo says if they get these changes done, then it will also have a flow-on effect to the biggest money earner which is tourism and this means a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved.