Managing waste in tourism industry

Local Government Permanent Secretary, Ms. Shima Sharma, stated that addressing waste management issues within the tourism industry requires a collective and collaborative approach. She emphasized that the power of a single hotel is limited, necessitating broader participation and cooperation to achieve meaningful results.

During a panel discussion at the Pacific Recycling Foundation Global Recycling Day roundtable held in Nadi on Wednesday, Ms. Sharma, as a panel member, pointed out that from an industry perspective, relying solely on one hotel cannot generate a significant impact. "We clearly need a collective and collaborative approach," she said. "We need tourism stakeholders and agencies to work closely with the Ministry of Tourism to coordinate efforts."

Ms. Sharma mentioned that the National Sustainable Tourism Framework includes waste management issues and how to integrate recycling into hotel operations. Her comments responded to concerns about the role of tourism in Fiji's economy and its contribution to waste generation. She noted that many hotels in Nadi and other regions are actively exploring methods for waste recycling and reduction.

"As Ms. Lenora Qereqeretabua mentioned, these hotels are now placing water dispensers and reusable bottles in guest rooms," Ms. Sharma said. "But it's not just about these items; there's also the issue of food waste. How should they manage this waste? Obviously, there are some things that cannot be recycled, and those are what should be sent to landfills." She added that many small businesses are doing more in terms of recycling and are working closely with the Ministry of Tourism because the Ministry has a framework focused on sustainability.

Ms. Sharma also stated that the Ministry of Tourism and local governments are collaborating on the "Na Vualiku" project, which aims to apply solutions from the western division to the northern division for sustainable waste management. "There are already some initiatives being implemented, and we just need to consolidate them." she concluded, highlighting the need for unified action.