In a significant move to combine Olympic values with environmental stewardship, the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) has launched a recycling program across twelve educational institutions in Suva. The initiative, part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Values program, aims to tackle Fiji’s growing waste management challenges while inspiring the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
The program includes the distribution of 240 Litre recycling bins to diverse educational institutions, ranging from primary schools to specialized learning centres. Among the recipients are Nakasi High School, Suva Special School, St. Marcellin Primary School, and the Fiji Vocational Technical Training Center for Disabled Persons, demonstrating FASANOC’s commitment to inclusive environmental education.
“Littering remains a persistent challenge in Fiji, and we recognized an opportunity to make a meaningful impact through the Olympic Solidarity Olympic Values program,” explained FASANOC Senior Sports Administrator Jane Wong-Niubalavu. “By placing these recycling bins in schools, we’re not just preventing waste from reaching our landfills; we’re teaching young people about environmental responsibility and sustainable practices.”
The initiative has created a unique bridge between sports and environmental conservation, with participating schools including Suva Grammar School, Holy Trinity Anglican School, and the Gospel School for the Deaf. Each institution will serve as a collection point for recyclable materials, creating a network of environmental stewardship across the greater Suva area.
To ensure the program’s long-term success, FASANOC has partnered with local recycling experts. Waste Paper Recyclers and Mission Pacific who will coordinate regular collection services from the schools, ensuring that gathered materials are properly processed and recycled. Additionally, long-time partner Star Printery has played a crucial role in the initiative’s implementation, producing the labels for the recycling bins and facilitating the delivery to schools, demonstrating how community partnerships can enhance environmental initiatives.
Star Printery’s Director, Vikesh Chauhan said, “Star Printery already has a connection with the students of Fiji who are using Educare Exercise Books. The full range of Educare Exercise books are 100% made in Fiji and it is a wonderful opportunity to give back to schools and students through this noble initiative”.
The program’s reach extends to several other educational institutions, including Arya Samaj Primary, Vishnu Deo Primary, Hilton Special School, Stella Maris Primary School, and Tacirua Primary-Tamavua. Each school’s participation strengthens the initiative’s impact and helps build a more sustainable future for Fiji.
More than just a recycling program, this initiative embodies the Olympic spirit of excellence and responsibility. By connecting the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with practical environmental action, FASANOC is helping students understand how they can contribute to global sustainability goals while celebrating Olympic values.
Building on the momentum of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which set new benchmarks for environmental sustainability in sporting events, Fiji’s school recycling program demonstrates how Olympic values can inspire local environmental action thousands of miles away from the host city.
Through this program, FASANOC is not only addressing immediate environmental concerns but also fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens who understand the connection between sports, sustainability, and social responsibility. As these recycling bins become a familiar sight in schoolyards across Suva, they stand as symbols of how Olympic values can contribute to positive environmental change at the grassroots level.
The initiative represents a small but significant step toward reducing Fiji’s environmental footprint, proving that when Olympic values meet environmental action, the entire community benefits.