THERE is a need for more consultation and dialogue before any definite decision can be made on the Suva City Council's green waste disposal policy.
These were the final words from the Lord Mayor, Ratu Peni Volavola, after a two-hour meeting with the Tamavua ratepayers at Salala Park in Namadi Heights on a cold and windy Thursday night.
Ratu Peni thanked the 30 ratepayers, who attended the meeting, for sharing their views and said there was a lot of work to be done.
"It will have to evolve after having a number of discussions and dialogues," he said.
"There is no such system as a perfect system and we will certainly pick on the good things brought up through this meeting.
"There are a lot of things that can be learnt from these discussions."
Tamavua ratepayers representative Fred Caine agreed, saying there was a need for more consultation and hoped it would be done soon.
Ratu Peni told the ratepayers that the council's door was always open for constructive discussion with members of the Suva city ratepayers.
"Our ultimate aim is to build a cleaner city and this is what should be our main focus.".
The council's director of health services, Nacanieli Kotoiwasawasa, said the council could not give special treatment to Tamavua ratepayers.
Some of the ratepayers asked for permission to submit six bags of green waste for collection instead of two bags.
The council was willing to accept the extra green waste bags but at an extra cost to the ratepayer.
Some residents also complained about the illegal dumping of rubbish in vacant properties.
The council said they would accept responsibility of cleaning it up.
Mr Kotoiwasawasa said that any illegal dumping of rubbish should be reported to the council on telephone number 3313433 ext 403 and 140.
The council is expected to hold similar consultation in all its wards in the coming weeks, all for the sake of making the capital environmentally healthy and healthy for its citizens and visitors.
One of the youth groups which has been helping the council clear green waste from properties is the Black Jacks.
The council provides the group with trucks to cart the green waste to the dump.
The Black Jacks clear rubbish from roadsides and empty lots.
