Country Project
Fiji
Organics

Organics
Fiji seeks to improve organic waste management in communities that do not receive waste collection services. The project will assess the existing composting programme in the country and design a suite of suitable village-based composting programmes for implementation in targeted communities. The project aims to facilitate community consultation, establish an organics management system to effectively collect and compost organic wastes generated. PacWastePlus is partnering with the GEF ISLANDS project to introduce Waste Management Action Plans in participating communities.


Project Description
Current Situation
60% of Fiji’s waste stream is organic material. Organics dumped into landfills generates leachate and methane gas, impacting the environment. Whilst organic materials composted and placed back on soils assist with moisture retention, organic growth, and is, therefore, a valuable input into agricultural pursuits.
What is the Fiji Project About?
Introduction of proper waste management to villages and informal settlements in partnership with GEF ISLAND through the following:
• Scoping Study to assess existing composting programmes and design of a suitable composting programme in targeted communities.
• Determine the community’s willingness to pay for garbage collection services.
• Introduce a suitable composting programme in targeted communities to support agricultural activities supported by education and awareness activities.
Future Situation
All organic wastes generated are diverted to organic waste processing systems, thereby eliminating land and water contamination from dumping, landfilling, and burning. The compost is then used back on land to improve crops and retain quality soils.
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Factsheet
Asbestos Management Brief: FIJI
The PacWastePlus Regional Asbestos Project will support countries in executing solutions, both legislative and policy-driven, to prevent exposure to asbestos fibre, and thereby reduce asbestos-related diseases. This document provides guidance for Fiji to progress work on the development and implementation of a National ACM ban with this resource providing background information, identifying policy and legislative options available.

Factsheet
Fiji Project Profile – Improving Organic Waste Management in Fiji’s Informal Settlements and Villages
One of the priorities of the Fiji Ministry of Environment is to improve organic waste management to support agricultural activities in Fiji. For this reason, the ministry is utilising the allocated PacWastePlus country investment to design and implement community-based programmes that effectively collect and process organic wastes to prevent environmental pollution and support agricultural activities. With around 60% of waste disposed at the disposal being an organic material, there is a significant opportunity to reduce leachate and methane generation and to create useful soil enhancers to increase agricultural yield.

Factsheet
PacWastePlus Project Snapshot – Fiji
The amendment of Fiji’s Public Health Act in 2018 enabled the expansion of garbage collection services, initially limited to municipal boundaries to all rural communities. There are several recycling companies established in the country, but challenges remain with providing incentives for local communities and collection services for recyclables. The major challenges in providing effective waste management in Fiji includes high operation costs associated with garbage collection services, the remote location of communities, increasing waste generation, and the location of approved disposal sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- By 2023, have created an effective sustainable partnership between government and targeted communities to effectively minimise wastes through the implementation of the Waste Hierarchy concept.
- By 2023, have established suitable waste management systems in targeted communities to support local recycling industries and the agriculture sector.
- By 2023, have all targeted communities effectively participating in the waste minimisation projects.
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- 60% of Fiji’s waste stream are made up of organic materials
- Organics are currently landfilled, taking up critical landfill space. Landfill construction is expensive.
- Organics generate leachate and methane gas as bi-product of the decomposition process.
- No waste segregation practiced in targeted communities
- Inconsistency garbage collection services provided.
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- All Organic waste generated at targeted communities is composted effectively, thereby eliminating land and water contamination.
- All communities are participating in the waste management programmes through waste segregation activities
- Improved soil quality (through the use of processed organics) increases the yield of crops for farmers, producing for both subsistence and commercial.