Return and Earn Fuels Fiji's Push for COP31 Climate Solutions

Fiji is highlighting its successful beverage container recycling program, Return and Earn, as a key example of community-driven climate action ahead of its hosting of COP31. The initiative has seen substantial growth, collecting 7.5 million plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the first half of this year alone.

Return and Earn Fiji Sustainability Manager Dwain Qalovaki emphasized that the program's figures demonstrate a positive shift in how Fijians manage waste. He noted that the success is a testament to effective partnerships between the government, private sector, and local communities. "The opportunity is for us to demonstrate that public-private partnerships work, and they work because each of us as Fijians are looking for solutions that can work long term," Qalovaki stated.

The program currently operates through municipal councils, with 12 centers across eight municipalities on Viti Levu. Qalovaki attributes the increasing collection rates to broader community involvement, including schools, youth groups, faith-based organizations, and individuals. Beyond its environmental impact of diverting waste from landfills, Return and Earn is also generating income for some community members who collect bottles and cans.

Despite the progress, Qalovaki acknowledges that changing long-standing habits remains a significant challenge. For decades, plastic bottles and cans were treated as ordinary rubbish, unlike glass bottles which have historically been returned. Building this new recycling habit requires ongoing awareness campaigns, improved accessibility to collection points, and sustained community participation. As Fiji prepares to host COP31, Return and Earn Fiji aims to demonstrate how coordinated local solutions can contribute to global climate action, linking waste management, climate goals, and economic benefits.

“

The opportunity is for us to demonstrate that public-private partnerships work, and they work because each of us as Fijians are looking for solutions that can work long term.