1st Meeting of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network

20th-21st November 2001

Kitakyushu, Japan

Waste Management in Lami Town, FIJI

Aniel Singh

I.Introduction

The planning and management of Fiji’s environment has always been a concern over the years, though emphasis was not as great then as it is today. Fiji’s Development Plans since its independence from the Great Britain in 1970 have often addressed environmental concerns while setting out development objectives for sectors such as Agriculture, Fisheries, Forests, Lands, Transport, Mining and Tourism.

In recent years, however, much focus and attention is being placed on the planning and management of the environment as Government’s quest for growth – oriented development has placed unrestrained pressure on the environment. This has given rise to major environmental problems and degradation of Fiji’s once pristine environment. Government has recognised the conserving the environment and promoting development are mutually depending and has therefore put in place measures for the management of Fiji’s environment. Government’s focus therefore began to center on attempting to place the country firmly on the path to sustainable development. It has also attempted to integrate environmental issues into the decision making process by ensuring that policies formulated for various sectors of the economy are based on a sustainable approach to development.

II.Background

Lami town is located approximately 5km from the capital city of Suva on the leeward side of main island of Viti Levu. Lami district has a population of 40,000 with an urban population of 20,000. It is located on a coast, which is the reason for concern for the waste dump is located in this district.

Lami was declared town on the 1st of March, 1977. It encompasses an area of 680 ha (1680 acres of town boundary). The town is divided into two wards and there are 12 councillors.

Since its declaration as a town, Lami has grown steadily and its population doubled in last 20 years. Average increase in population is about 3% per annum.

II.Waste Management in Lami

Currently the dump is under management of Suva City Council. Therefore, Lami Town Council does not have any say in the management of the dump. All the management decisions are finalised by the Suva City Council. In sharp contrast to high quality collection service solid disposal/management of Lami Dump has become the “Towns Dilemma”.

The most pressing problem is the Lami Dump, which has far exceeded its normal capacity limits and is now merely increasing in height. It cannot be described as a “Sanitary Landfill”. Open dumping, burning is the most fitting general description.

  1. Types of Waste

All types of solid waste (household garbage, green waste, industrial waste, noxious and hazardous waste and heavy metals) from Lami Town, Suva City and Nasinu Town are dumped at the Lami Dump, which is located on the coast just inside the boundary of Lami Town.

  1. Environmental Problems of Waste

aVisual Degradation

The location of the dump on the main highway in and out of the capital city of Suva is not a pleasing sight for incoming and outgoing traffic, which is also includes tourists and visitors to the area.

There are no proper disposal mechanisms in place to cover the waste. Often the incoming waste is left to decay as nature permits. As there is some household and toxic waste, the residents in the area often have to endure continuous foul smell from the dump.

Further, the passing traffic also have to put up with the smell. There are numerous complaints made to the local council every year.

bSmell

It is a populated residential area. The residents have to endure the continuous smell as there is often sea breeze blowing in from the direction of the dump towards the residential zone.

cCoastal Degradation

Surrounding coastal zones of the rubbish dump often has associated seepages of decaying materials. There has been cases where there is seepage of disposed toxic wastes which tend to affect the marine ecology of the area. There has been numerous cases of dead fish in the sea next to the dump. A river mouth on the edge of the dump also pushes contaminated water and marine materials out to the sea. This leads to pollution of the harbour.

dSoil Pollution

In addition to water pollution, there is certain amount of soil contamination as there is no proper method of disposal of toxic wastes. There is also no designated area in the dump for disposal of toxic wastes.

  1. Relocation of the Present Waste Dump

There is already a proposal to relocate the dump to Naboro, approximately 15km from Lami. Environmental Impact Assessment has been done and this project will take place in 2 to 3 years.

  1. Legislation

Waste management has never been addressed as a separate problem. The collection and disposal of solid waste has bee included in Public Health Act of Fiji (1978) and its subsidiary legislations (1985) dealing entirely from public health point of view. Public Health Act, Cap III is a fairly old law, which was last amended in 1966. Over the years, the Public Health laws were found to be inadequate particularly in regard to waste management and littering. Subsequently in 1992, Anti-Litter Decree was legislated to control littering. This law since its enactment has been subject to updating and amendments. These legislations had limitations and restrictions therefore, the problems concerning environment degradation continued and subsequently this led to establishment of Department of Environment under Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment. The Department in the course of bringing control measures on waster management resorted to further legislations and this led to:

  • Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations (2000)
  • Sustainable Development Bill (1999) (Yet to be passed by the Parliament)

Sustainable Development Bill (1999) is still in the process of being passed as a law. This legislation is adequate and has a wide application towards protection and control of environment, compelling proper, suitable and adequate waste management of solid waste.

For some years, the area of waste management was not considered seriously and the Ministry of Health, which controls Public Health Legislations showed no initiative towards updating the laws. The local authorities having control over the collection and disposal of waste operated the services with no regard to any improved technologies or having the availability of stringent legislations to generally improve the systems. Technologies are available which can be adopted but inadequacy of proper legislations will continue to be major lacking factor unless some dramatic actions are taken to have the Sustainable Development Bill passed and adopted as Law. Similarly the Public Health Act and its subsidiary legislation are being revised.

  1. Challenges
  • To create and maintain healthy environment on land, water and clean air to promote healthy life style of the residents. A model town.
  • To pursue sustainable development and beautify Lami as a whole.
  • To provide access and safe means of sewerage, sullage and industrial liquid waste treatment and disposal. A reticulated sewerage system and a conventional treatment plan for whole of Lami.
  • To improve water quality along the coastline for recreational purposes.
  • To control air pollution from industrial chimneys, motor vehicles and other activities emitting gases and dust.
  • To upgrade and maintain easement drains in state of bad repair.
  • To close and stabilise the Lami refuse dump site and stop lechats in harbour.
  1. Constraints
  • Lack of sampling equipment to monitor air and water quality.
  • Lack of testing laboratories
  • Undulating topography of land for proper construction of easement drains to suitable outfall.
  • High water table in low lying areas.
  • Lack of ideas, knowledge and information on pollution prevention.
  • Human resource and technology shortage.
  1. Conclusion

Many industries see environment considerations as an added expense, which could be due to insufficient knowledge and expertise in available solutions to effectively deal with environmental problems. This gap can be filled if tertiary institutions and the government assist the private section by raising awareness, providing incentives: institutional strengthening through professional development and research based on information which can be used to improve environment quality. While the partnerships between tertiary institutions, government and the private section has contributed to the development of new industrial processes to reduce emissions, it would be more effective if more industries themselves could see the financial successes of environmental sound investments.