Waste no longer someone else’s problem: Tabuya

Fiji's Environment Minister Lynda Tabuya is calling on all Fijians to actively manage their waste, emphasizing that pollution poses a significant threat to the nation's environment and future. Tabuya stated that Fiji cannot effectively combat climate change while its rivers, coastlines, and oceans continue to be inundated with rubbish and plastic waste.

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Fiji cannot protect itself from climate change while rivers, coastlines and oceans continue to be polluted by rubbish and plastic waste.

Highlighting waste as a major environmental and public health issue, the Minister urged a collective shift in behavior. To address the escalating problem, the Ministry has finalized the National Integrated Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy for 2026-2035. Additionally, Fiji is set to launch its first National Plastics Inventory, aiming to better understand and manage plastic pollution.

The government is also developing Container Deposit Regulations designed to incentivize recycling and reduce littering across the country. Tabuya stressed that businesses, communities, and individual households all share a responsibility in minimizing waste and safeguarding the environment. Fijians are encouraged to avoid littering, reduce their reliance on single-use plastics, and ensure proper disposal of all waste.

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The Minister says waste has become a major environmental and public health issue and urged people to change their behavior.

Minister Tabuya made these remarks during her observation of World Environment Day. She underscored that protecting the environment is a shared endeavor, and that small, consistent changes in daily habits can yield substantial positive impacts for future generations. The initiative aims to foster a sense of national responsibility towards environmental stewardship.

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Protecting the environment requires action from everyone and that small changes in daily habits can make a big difference for future generations.