Diapers are a growing waste concern in Fiji, with discarded diapers ending up in drains, creeks and rivers and eventually threatening our coastal and marine environment. Data collected from coastal and riverine litter assessments continues to show diapers among the waste inputs into the environment, highlighting the need to look beyond clean-ups and find practical solutions that stop this waste at its source.
Today, the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael, together with officers from the Ministry’s Waste Management and Pollution Control Unit, met with representatives of The Greater Good to discuss the potential introduction of The Greater Good Diaper Project in Fiji.
The Greater Good Diaper Project is an environmental initiative focused on tackling disposable diaper waste through a circular approach.
The project provides compostable diapers and establishes effective and efficient systems for their collection and composting, with the aim of keeping diaper waste out of landfills and the natural environment while turning it into a useful resource. The project is currently being implemented in the Pacific region, specifically in Samoa and Tuvalu.
Discussions included potentially identifying a community to pilot The Greater Good Diaper Project in Fiji, allowing the Ministry and its partners to collect local data and better understand diaper use, disposal patterns and the practicality of a community-based collection system.
Dr Michael welcomed the initiative, saying Fiji needs innovative and practical solutions that respond to the types of waste increasingly being found in the environment.
“Our coastal and riverine monitoring data continues to tell us a story. We are seeing volumes of diapers being thrown into drains, creeks, rivers and coastlines. We cannot simply keep removing this waste once it reaches the environment. We need solutions that address the problem at its source,” Dr Michael said.
He said the proposed pilot would provide an opportunity to gather Fiji-specific data and evidence to determine how such an approach could contribute to the country’s broader waste management and pollution reduction efforts.
The Ministry looks forward to continued discussions with The Greater Good as The Greater Good Diaper Project is further scoped for potential implementation in Fiji.