Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Lynda Tabuya met with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Chemicals and Waste team in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to discuss support for Fiji’s growing waste management challenges and the development of a national approach to waste management.
Minister Tabuya requested the meeting as she continues to advance the need for a National Waste Management Strategy that addresses one of Fiji’s most pressing environmental issues—the growing volume of waste generated in villages, informal and squatter settlements, and other communities that currently have little or no regular waste collection services.
She highlighted that many communities are struggling with plastic pollution, illegal dumping, open burning of rubbish, and waste entering rivers and coastal areas, creating risks to public health, livelihoods and the environment.
The Minister stressed that Fiji requires practical solutions and investment to improve waste collection systems, expand recycling and resource recovery, reduce plastic waste, support composting initiatives, and create sustainable waste management options for communities currently outside municipal collection services.
Discussions also focused on Fiji’s broader efforts to tackle plastics, hazardous waste, e-waste and chemical pollution, while strengthening environmental governance and protecting human health, biodiversity and marine ecosystems.
Minister Tabuya said Fiji is committed to building a cleaner and greener future, but achieving this requires stronger partnerships and easier access to financing and technical support.
The meeting explored opportunities for GEF support towards community-based waste management programmes, recycling initiatives, plastic recovery projects, waste-to-energy opportunities and nature-based alternatives to single-use plastics.
She noted that for many Fijians, waste management is not simply an environmental issue but a quality-of-life issue that affects health, safety, food security, tourism and community wellbeing.
The discussions form part of Fiji’s broader engagement at the Eighth GEF Assembly, where representatives from 186 countries are working to shape the next phase of global environmental financing.