Joint Press Statement: Housing Authority of Fiji, Pacific Recycling Foundation & Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited

19TH SEPT 2023: Today, the Housing Authority of Fiji announced that it will become the third site for I-Recycle Hub bins, a program operated by the Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) and Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited (WRFL), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program.

The new bins will enable approximately 100 staff and tenants of the Housing Authority of Fiji to segregate and dispose of plastic, paper, and other recyclable waste, to be collected by WRFL for sorting, cleaning, and compacting before shipping to overseas partners to be recycled.

Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Authority of Fiji, Mr. Ritesh Singh, said that previously, waste and recyclables generated at their building were not sorted and everything was taken to the landfill.

“Through this new initiative, we will now be able to contribute to increasing the longevity of the landfill, as well as cut down on our carbon footprint by recycling our waste,” said Mr. Singh.

PRF Founder and WRFL CEO Mr. Amitesh Deo applauded the management and staff of the Housing Authority of Fiji for joining the recycling movement and contributing to environmental sustainability. In the future, he hopes the Housing Authority of Fiji will be able to expand similar recycling solutions and learnings to their housing units around Fiji, which will significantly reduce landfilled, prevent plastics from leaking into the environment, and increase volumes of recyclable materials being returned to the circular economy.

“I would also like to acknowledge USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program for collaborating with the PRF and WRFL and opening the possibility for organisations and communities to join efforts in fighting plastic pollution and other critical waste management problems,” said Mr. Deo.

I-Recycle Hub’s launch at the Housing Authority of Fiji follows the installation of bins at the Fiji Development Bank in Suva City and Bykeitou Settlement in Nasinu—the first three of five planned locations around Suva City to promote improved waste management and community recycling practices.

-ENDS-