Residents of Raiwai, Suva, have expressed their concerns regarding rubbish piles found outside their homes and community.

A Resident of Kia Street, Raiwai, for more than 20 years, Semi Babitu, 69, said the rubbish piles along the roadside were an everyday occurrence for the number of years he had been residing there.

“For more than 20 years I have witnessed the roadside filled with various kinds of rubbish piled up every day,” he said.

“We have witnessed vehicles come around the area at night and dump rubbish outside the homes and on the roadside.

“It has been a huge concern for residents because we have had to ensure the roadside is clean and make sure that white goods dumped here are taken for proper disposal.

“We have informed the authorities for the issue to be taken care of and ensure that we do not have the rubbish piles lying around.

“The Suva City Council has also ensured that the rubbish piles are  picked up every Saturday, but yet people keep dumping their rubbish on the roadside and footpaths where people walk instead of the rubbish bins and incinerators provided for proper disposal of the rubbish,” Mr Babitu said.

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the rubbish piles included not only white goods or furniture, but also kitchen waste, diapers and other waste found in

the rubbish piles. “We get to see all types of the rubbish lying around the footpath and it stinks and attracts flies, which is a health hazard,” he said.

On Monday, Minister for Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy, during the opening of the Litter Act 2008 Litter Prevention Officers enforcement training, said litter was the result of mostly individual behaviour because people chose to be careless in the handling of waste.

“My ministry recognises that litter can cause a whole range of problems for everyone in our communities,” he said.

“When discarded carelessly, litter usually ends up in our rivers and creeks, causing flash flooding.

“Litter is also a threat to public health because it attracts vermin and can negatively affect the image of communities. Litter using plastics causes an additional problem of stalling decomposition of materials which could decompose.

“We now have to join hands in combating this problem, which is affecting everyone. It is not only an individual’s problem or a local problem.

“Rather, it is everyone’s problem and a national problem. It affects not only the person or area where the litter is thrown, but rather the entire community and the nation.

“The negative effect of litter affects everyone via its polluting and health causing effect as well as its effect on our waterways,” Mr Reddy said.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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