A MAJOR part of the failure to keep the environment clean in Fiji is the low level of public awareness that littering is a real problem, warns a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
"The public generally chooses to ignore its responsibility of keeping public areas clean and visually attractive. It is common to see people dropping litter wherever and whenever they like, even when rubbish bins are nearby," the UNESCAP report said.
The comments in the report titled Integrating environmental considerations into economic policy making processes, seem to be as real today as they were 10 years ago.
"Increased material consumption has accompanied economic growth. Much of the increased value added in consumption takes the form of packaging. If that packaging is not disposed of properly it becomes litter, bringing with it public health and public amenity costs," the report warned.
"The urban areas of Fiji have been facing a serious litter problem for some time, which has been recognised by national and local government authorities. Numerous attempts have been made to overcome the problem, but with limited success."
The report recommends policy makers "be prepared to take a long-term view" for sustainable results.
"Fiji's stop-start approach to implementing environmental programmes is, at best, ineffective and, at worst, counter-productive," it said, adding "the littering problem cannot be solved by legislation alone".
"Continuous public education is required to increase awareness about litter problems and change behaviour patterns. Monetary penalties are not sufficient."
It is this public awareness of litter as a problem that the Clean Up Fiji campaign is targeting.
Clean Up Fiji Day is set for this Saturday.
According to organisers, by the end of yesterday, the total number of teams registered was 102, with about 5700 people signing up.
"TFL has registered teams in Lautoka, Labasa and Suva with a total of 300 participants," organisers said.
"BAT has registered teams in Nadi, Suva, Labasa, Lautoka, Sigatoka with a total of 145 participants. St Teresa's Catholic School has registered 420 people to clean up the school compound. Waivou Village Eco-Tourism has registered 30 people to clean up Waivou Village and Sigatoka Town Council has registered 150."
The organisers added that the Poorva Neighbourhood Community Project had 30 people registered in a team called Bulldog Cleaners, while the Institute of Fijian Language and Culture had registered 20 people to clean up the Nasese Foreshore.
