Fiji Hub Achievement Report

June 2017
Objective: Waste Management

The Dawasamu Waste Management Programme

Objective:

Introduce and successfully run a waste management programme in Dawasamu District.

Summary:
The Dawasamu Waste Management Programme has been implemented in all villages within
Dawasamu District to offer alternative ways to dispose of waste that are environmentally friendly
and beneficial to the health of the communities

Report:
The Dawasamu Waste Management Programme has been implemented in all villages within
Dawasamu District to offer alternative ways to dispose of waste that are environmentally friendly
and beneficial to the health of the communities. The options the villages previously had were to
burn or bury their waste in the villages; this poses problems for the village that cannot be ignored.
Burying waste releases hazardous toxins into the soil and sea in sensitive marine area. This pollution
compromises the plantations and marine life, which serves as an important food source for villagers.
Burning waste contributes to environmental damage and is a serious health hazard since it is burned
indiscriminately around houses and people. Additionally, burning and burying waste has a negative
psychological impact for villages that take incredible pride in the cleanliness of their villages. The
Dawasamu Waste Management Programme serves to create a sustainable waste management
system for future generations.

Since Cyclone Winston in 2016 GVI has reconstructed recycling points and administered recycling
workshops in an effort to aid and promote the health of the villagers and the environment. To date,
GVI has assisted in constructing 14 recycling points in 9 villages and 2 schools. GVI has also
monitored each villages waste in order to track their amount of waste being recycled and the
proper sorting of recyclable materials. The villages and GVI have worked together to significantly
reduce their amount of waste being burned, buried or thrown away.

GVI works alongside village members to best meet each villages needs and encourage ownership
over the programme. In Stage 1 of the Dawasamu Waste Management Programme, GVI conducts an
educational workshop. The goal is to educate the village on the importance of recycling and how to
recycle. Through activities, discussion, and a presentation, GVI explains what common household
materials used in Fiji are recyclable and how to sort them using a recycling point. The village then
decides whether it wants to become a part of the Dawasamu Waste Management Programme. Upon
joining the programme, GVI and the village work together to construct a recycling point. In Stage 2,
GVI returns to the village to check up on the progress, gather feedback on the recycling point and
reinforce the proper sorting of recyclable materials. GVI returns to each village monthly to monitor
the recycling point; the volume of the bags, the maintenance of the structure and monitor the
sorting of materials.

Through the monthly monitoring, GVI can determine the volume of the recycling bags across the
district. The aim is to provide larger villages with enough recycling points to carry out a collection
every 3 months periodically. GVI also monitors collection day and the recycling centre in Lami, Suva
provide us with the total weights of recycled materials from collection. Together, this information
allows GVI to track the programmes progress. For example, GVI calculates the contribution by each
village, breakdown of contribution by each village averaged by households and total weight per
material collected of time periods. The other aspect of the monitoring is ensuring the recycling is
being sorted correctly, as if it is not the recycling centre will refuse the bags and charge $30 to burn
the bag, which can undermine the entire Programme.
If there are issues with the sorting, a method of remedy is determined by the Headman to best suit
that particular village. This may include repeating a workshop or going door to door talking to the
villagers. The aim of monitoring is to get the Programme to a point where collection day runs
periodically (every 3 months unless recycling levels change considerably), with the correct
materials being sorted to a point where monitoring is required on a lesser basis and the collection
days run smoothly.

GVI and the Dawasamu District recognise the lasting importance of the Dawasamu Waste
Management Programme. It is imperative that we continue to prioritise the program, as it is
essential to our health and environment. The programme will also serve future generations as they
adjust the programme as the recycling process evolves over time.