IT will take Fiji about 15 years to have a fully developed rubbish disposal site, says the manager at the Naboro landfill, Mark Hirst. His comment follows the interim Government's decision to implement the National Solid Waste Management Strategy.
He said the strategy that identified ways to better manage solid waste would be a good start.
Mr Hirst, from the New Zealand-based Leach Waste Managers and Contractors, said they were doing their best at the Naboro landfill.
He said people should understand that they could only manage the amount of rubbish which was brought to them.
"People always complain that the services here are too expensive and the gate fee is too high," Mr Hirst said.
"I would like to remind everyone that the gate fee is not set by us or received by us.
"It was the Fiji Government which made the decision.
"The gate fee is received directly by them. We have nothing to do with it," he said.
Some organisations at the launch of solid waste management strategy last week pointed out that the gate fee of $24.90 imposed at Naboro landfill was too high.
Mr Hirst urged the people not to blame them for the ineffective management of rubbish circulating around the capital.
He said the problem was with the rubbish collection method and not with the disposal of rubbish at Naboro.
It would cost the interim Government about $1.5million to have the Naboro landfill area developed and manageable for the next five years, said Mr Hirst.
He said people should be mindful that a better rubbish disposal system would always cost more than Naboro.
