“Youths of the Immaculate Conception in Lami planting the “Yasi” tree during the Season of Creation in 2024.” - Photo: Noa Mervyn Tuivunilagi
From the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office in Suva
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as JPIC Coordinator for the Region of Oceania. I step into this role with enthusiasm for the challenges ahead and with deep respect for the legacy of the Columbans in Fiji, who have long carried out this mission with commitment and courage. I draw particular inspiration from Laudato Si’, the encyclical by the late Pope Francis, whose vision of ecological conversion and care for our common home continues to guide this ministry. It is a vision I hope to uphold as faithfully and authentically as possible.
During this month of June, as we mark both World Oceans Day and World Environment Day under the theme “Combatting Plastic Pollution,” we are called to reflect more urgently than ever on the effectiveness of our environmental protection efforts - particularly in Fiji. Five years since the 2020 ban on single-use plastic bags, the real impact of this legislation remains unclear. While the prohibition of polystyrene products and plastics thinner than 50 microns reinforces the urgency of addressing pollution, the limitations of legislation alone are becoming increasingly evident.
According to UNCTAD, Fiji generates around 140,000 tonnes of solid waste annually, with 15,000 tonnes made up of plastic. Of that, only 10% is recycled. Meanwhile, the ecological toll is mounting. Research shows that kai (Andara antiquata) harvested from the Ba River Delta contain microplastics due to metabolic stress, and 68% of fish sampled along Suva’s coast were also found to be contaminated. The UN further reports that nearly 17% of marine species suffer due to ingestion or entanglement with plastic - a critical concern in a country like Fiji, where marine life is essential to food security and livelihoods.
“The Naboro Landfill, which is one of the two landfills servicing the entire country of Fiji in waste management; located just outside Suva.” - Photo: Noa Mervyn Tuivunilagi
Why are our policy efforts falling short? Enforcement remains weak. Many businesses, banned from using thin plastics, have simply switched to thicker plastic alternatives - technically legal, but no less harmful. Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) by companies like Fiji Water and Coca-Cola have achieved only a 25% return rate, while the lack of a local PET recycling facility means plastic waste is still exported overseas, primarily to China. Compounding this issue is Fiji’s limited waste infrastructure: one sanitary landfill and just two municipal dumps to service over 330 islands.
What is needed? Fiji must invest in stronger recycling infrastructure to process plastic waste locally and reduce dependence on exports. Resources must be allocated to ensure existing environmental laws are properly enforced. Most importantly, communities must be empowered. At Xavier College in Ba, students are leading bottle recycling initiatives - showing how education and grassroots action can create meaningful change. Ba, an inland town, knows too well the devastating effects of blocked waterways during heavy rains.
As we mark World Oceans Day and World Environment Day, let us remind ourselves that policy is only as effective as implementation - it is a mission. Inspired by Laudato Si’ and the legacy of Pope Francis, and renewed by the promise of our new Pope Leo XIV to be a missionary church, may this be a new beginning.
Noa Mervyn Tuivunilagi is the JPIC Coordinator (Region of Oceania), Columban Mission Office – Fiji.
Related links
- Read more from the current e-Kaulotu - June 2025
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