Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited today hosted its Corporate Engagement Event at the Fiji Museum in Suva, marking a significant milestone with the official launch of the Pasifika Recycling Environmental Standards (PRES) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The event was officiated by the Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Sakiusa Tubuna, and brought together key corporate partners, stakeholders, and industry representatives committed to advancing recycling and sustainable waste management in Fiji.

The PRES framework is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to strengthen accountability, transparency, and performance across WRFL’s network of recycling partners. It introduces a structured system to evaluate and recognise partners based on five core pillars: recycling volumes, pick-up systems, condition of recyclables, communication effectiveness, and formal commitment to the programme.

Speaking at the launch, WRFL CEO Amitesh Deo said the framework represents a critical shift from participation to performance-driven recycling systems.

“Pasifika Recycling Environmental Standards was born out of both feedback and our experiences. We want to provide our partners with more than just a system – we want to offer accountability and a clear pathway to leadership in recycling.”

He added that the initiative is designed not only to measure performance, but to elevate it.

“This is not just about metrics. PRES is about visibility, accountability, and acknowledgment. It celebrates those who turn routine recycling into leadership, and it creates a clear pathway for others to improve and follow.”

Through a structured grading system, partners will be evaluated across five criteria, with commitment recognised through a star-based rating system – positioning high-performing organisations as leaders in recycling and circular economy practices.

As part of strengthening engagement and accountability, WRFL also announced that the Corporate Engagement Event will now become an annual event held during the Global Recycling Day month. This will provide a dedicated platform for WRFL to connect more closely with its corporate partners, review progress, and collectively strengthen recycling outcomes year-on-year.

In line with the PRES framework, partners will also be formally recognised each year based on their performance, with certificates awarded across the different standards to acknowledge their commitment and progress in sustainable recycling practices.

Deo emphasised that the framework reinforces WRFL’s broader commitment to building a collaborative and inclusive recycling system.

The PRES framework will also support improved data collection, reporting, and continuous improvement, ensuring that recycling programmes are not only operational, but impactful and scalable.

“If we are serious about proper waste management in Fiji, then we must move beyond basic participation. PRES sets the benchmark and challenges all of us to rise to it,” Deo said.

WRFL is now calling on organisations across Fiji to join the recycling movement and be part of a growing movement toward a more accountable, and sustainable future. Deo acknowledged the Fiji Museum as a key partner in hosting this important occasion. As one of Fiji’s foremost national institutions, Fiji Museum represents the country’s collective history, identity, and heritage. Hosting the event at this venue underscores the strong connection between environmental sustainability and nation-building – preserving not only the natural environment, but also the legacy passed on to future generations.