New Trash Boom Installed in Nabua to Protect Fiji’s Waterways

Waste flowing through Nabua’s waterways now has a new barrier, with the installation of a trash boom designed to trap rubbish before it reaches the ocean.

The installation, led by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, is part of a growing national effort to protect Fiji’s waterways and coastal environment.

Speaking at the site, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Hon. Lynda Tabuya said while the trashboom is a practical step forward, it also highlights the need for a bigger, long-term solution.

“Just weeks ago, the National Fire Authority was here clearing out waste that should never have been in our waterways in the first place. We cannot continue to rely on cleanups. That is not a system, that is a cycle,” she said.

The Minister pointed out that the type of waste being collected—from plastic bottles to diapers and even electronic waste—shows deeper issues with waste management across the country.

“What we are seeing tells us that we do not yet have a waste management system that reaches everyone,” she said.

She acknowledged that many informal settlements, rural communities, and areas outside municipal boundaries still lack proper waste collection services.

Despite this, the Nabua installation is already being welcomed by residents.

Asha Bibi, a long-time resident of Nabua Muslim League Settlement Zone 6, said the trash boom will make a real difference in keeping the area cleaner.

“These trash booms will make a big difference. It will be collecting the bottles here, so there will be less rubbish,” she said.

The trashboom is the fourth installed under support from the United Nations Environment Programme, with more planned across the country. The government has also committed to funding additional installations as part of a broader effort to tackle pollution.

While the barriers help stop waste before it reaches the sea, Minister Tabuya stressed that real change must happen at the source.

“They are a frontline defence. But the real solution is upstream, how we manage waste at the household, community and national level,” she said.

She added that protecting Fiji’s environment will require not just infrastructure, but also stronger systems, enforcement, and personal responsibility.

“Government will do its part. Our partners will continue to support. But every household must also take responsibility.”

The project is a joint effort involving the Government of Fiji, the Government of Japan, UNEP, Trashboom Pacific, municipal councils, and local communities—showing how partnerships can drive meaningful change.