PRF takes bold step in Sydney to tackle Fiji’s growing waste crisis

The Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) has arrived in Sydney ahead of its landmark VAKA Forum, International Academic Lens & Donor Alignment, which will take place from tomorrow till Wednesday at the University of New South Wales.

They say that the event will bring together academics, government leaders, industry experts and donor agencies to develop practical solutions to address the waste crisis in Fiji and across the Pacific.

PRF adds that the Forum is being organised in partnership with UNSW and the ANZPAC Plastics Pact, with support from Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Pacific Energy, Suva City Council, Tourism Fiji and other industry partners as part of the 2025 Global Recycling Day campaign.

They say that around 40 participants are expected to attend, representing academic research, policy leadership, industry expertise and donor agencies.

They explain that the discussions will focus on translating research, funding and policy dialogue into real-world, scalable recycling solutions.

PRF Founder Amitesh Deo says this is not just about dialogue, but about strengthening what works on the ground and scaling it up.

He says with the support of academics, donor agencies and industry partners, solutions can be implemented at a scale that matches the urgency of the waste crisis.

PRF brings years of frontline experience to the Forum, including community-based recycling programmes, support for informal recyclables collectors and pilot initiatives that have delivered measurable results.

They highlight that the event aims to connect this practical experience with research frameworks, policy alignment and funding pathways to ensure solutions are actionable, socially just and environmentally sustainable.

The VAKA Forum also highlights human-centred and gender-inclusive approaches, recognising the key role of women and marginalised communities within the recycling ecosystem.

They say that structured working groups will focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration, systems strengthening, regional replication and industry partnerships, with the goal of delivering concrete outcomes throughout 2026 and beyond.

The Forum forms part of PRF’s wider VAKA Forum Series, which stands for Voices, Alliances, Knowledge and Action, and is aimed at building a unified circular economy vision for Fiji and the Pacific.