A new Container Deposit and Refund Recycling System will start in Fiji soon to ensure all beverage containers are recycled.

Environment Minister, Colonel Samuela Saumatua said the Container Deposit system starts with the producers and importers adding a compulsory deposit for every beverage produced or imported.

He said the deposits from the producers and importers will be paid into a revolving fund to be managed by the Managing Agency.

Colonel Saumatua said retailers will then sell the beverages to consumers with the increased deposit amount to reflect the deposit paid by the producers and importers.

After the consumption of the beverage, the consumer can return the used container to licensed collectors and claim a refund of their deposit less a handling fee.

The Minister said the collector will buy the used containers from the consumer for a lesser amount and then take the collected materials to the processor for recycling.

The processor will bale and export the beverage containers for financial profit.

Amendments to the Environment Regulation now include producers of plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminum cans.

Colonel Saumatua said Fiji consumes some 50 million containers of beverage.

Few of these containers are recycled while millions are discarded improperly ending up on the streets, in waterways and beaches.


Story by: Vijay Narayan