TUVALU’S first export of recycled PET flake and Fiji’s recovery of more than 17.7 million beverage containers show how Pacific collection programmes are linking recovered materials to recycling markets. At the same time, Samoa has opened a national centre to process plastic bottles and aluminium cans for export.
TUVALU: First PET flake export brings $AUD 76,721
Tuvalu will receive $AUD 76,721.64 for 37 tonnes of recovered beverage-container materials purchased by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Pacific Islands: eight tonnes of PET flake and 29 tonnes of aluminium.
The PET flake will be sent to a PET facility in Melbourne, Australia, to be recycled into new beverage containers.
The shipment marks Tuvalu’s first export of PET flake and demonstrates the country’s ability to collect, process and prepare post-consumer beverage containers for international recycling markets.
The initiative builds on the country’s Waste Management Levy Deposit Regulation, which targets specified imported beverage containers.
“Tuvalu has demonstrated that materials once considered waste can create genuine economic value for our country,” Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Dr Maina Vakafua Talia said.
He said the shipment reflected community commitment, the strength of the waste management system and partnerships supporting a cleaner and more sustainable future.
CCEP said its Mission Pacific programme had supported beverage-container collection, processing and recycling across the Pacific for more than 20 years. The purchase forms part of that programme.
FIJI: 17.7 million containers recovered in nine months
Return & Earn Fiji recovered 8,841,926 plastic bottles and 8,900,614 aluminium cans from January to September 2026, bringing collections to 17,742,540 containers.
The programme also facilitated exports of 15 40-foot shipping containers of processed PET flake through the Moana Taka Partnership during the period.
The programme paid more than $1.6 million in refunds to the public and handling fees to municipal councils, it said.
It reported 13 operational collection centres and identified Tavua, Rakiraki, Levuka, Labasa, Savusavu, Taveuni, Rotuma and Kadavu among the next locations, with a longer-term vision of at least 50 centres across Fiji.
“More than 17.7 million containers recovered in nine months is a strong indication of what can is achieved when communities have an accessible way to participate in recycling,” Return & Earn Fiji representative Dwain Qalovaki said. He said the focus was on sustaining participation, expanding access and working with municipal and community partners.
SAMOA: Vaitele centre prepares containers for export
CCEP Samoa has opened the National Beverage Container Recycling Centre in Vaitele, with dedicated capability to receive, sort, process and prepare PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans for export to verified recycling facilities.
The centre supports recovery and processing of plastic and aluminium beverage containers, regardless of brand, and the continued growth of Return & Earn Samoa.
CCEP Samoa said it had invested more than WST 300,000 in the centre, building on seven years of investment in community-based collection and recycling initiatives.
It invited more than 30 of Samoa’s beverage manufacturers and importers to join the programme.
“A truly national collection and recycling system requires participation from all companies that place beverage containers in the Samoan market,” the statement said.
“By working together, we can increase collection rates, strengthen recycling outcomes and deliver greater environmental benefits for Samoa and future generations.”
Community collection partners support the centre, including the Samoa Tuvalu Association of Recyclers and the Eco-Green Alliance Warriors of Vailu’utai.