Dumpsite Remediation - Western Sanitary Landfill Project
This solution is focussed at providing blended finance and technical support to unlock private capital for Western Landfill and Regional Transfer Stations project so that it is investment ready and able to leverage private capital. This work entails rehabilitating at least one major dumpsite and transforming it into a Material Recycling Facility (MRF), which can demonstrate the public-private partnership (PPP) model needed to scale up the solution for the broader Western Landfill transaction and eventual replication on Vanua Levu.
The project represents a transformative opportunity to redefine waste management in Fiji while protecting both people, the surrounding coral reefs and the natural environment. By converting an open dumpsite into a modern Material Recycling Facility (MRF), the initiative combines public and private financing to deliver lasting impact. It will generate local green employment, empower women and youth, and establish a strong institutional foundation through a dedicated Waste Management Authority to guide sustainable waste operations and future expansion.
By stopping untreated waste and leachate from entering nearby rivers and coastlines, the project will directly protect the Mamanuca and Yasawa reef systems, Nadi Bay, Lautoka coastal waters, and the wider Great Sea Reef (Cakaulevu) — the world’s third-longest continuous barrier reef and Fiji’s largest marine ecosystem. These reef systems are vital for coastal protection, fisheries, tourism, and biodiversity. Cleaner waste systems will mean reduced marine pollution, healthier coral reefs, and more sustainable livelihoods for the coastal communities that depend on them.
This initiative goes beyond rehabilitating a dumpsite; it demonstrates how blended finance and public-private collaboration can transform an environmental threat into a catalyst for inclusive growth. With expanded funding, this model can be replicated across Fiji, driving a national shift toward a circular economy that protects the Great Sea Reef, supports community well-being, and strengthens climate and economic resilience across the islands.
The reoriented transaction would focus on three major areas that would lay the groundwork for a future sanitary landfill in the Western Division. These are as follows:
- Feasibility Study for Remediation Approaches and Waste Management Authority
This includes a comprehensive study to identify possible remedial measures for existing dumpsites, as well as an evaluation of the feasibility of establishing a Waste Management Authority in Fiji. The feasibility study will provide critical information to guide future decisions and help structure not only the dumpsite rehabilitation plan but the entire Western Landfill transaction as well.
- Grant Financing for Dumpsite Rehabilitation (PPP Partner)
A significant portion of the funding would be allocated to the rehabilitation of the existing dumpsite, provided as grant financing to the private-sector PPP partner. This funding would be placed in and drawn from the Environmental Trust Fund to ensure it is used appropriately and in alignment with environmental goals.
- Debt Financing/Credit Guarantee for PPP Partner’s Equipment Purchase
To ensure that the rehabilitated dumpsite and MRF can be effectively operated, a component of the funding would be used to provide debt financing or a credit guarantee to the private-sector PPP partner to be implemented directly through UNCDF. This financing would enable the partner to purchase the necessary machinery and equipment for the facility’s operations.
