Fijians will soon start being fined five times more for littering after an amendment to the country’s litter laws.
The Fijian government says the stronger penalties and enforcement measures against littering will come into effect in two weeks.
Under the old law, everyday littering fines were fixed at FJ$40 (NZ$30). But the new law will see the fines increase to FJ$200 (NZ$150), bringing them closer to the infringement fines Kiwis pay for littering, depending on the type and amount of litter.
Fiji’s Climate and Environment Minister Lynda Tabuya told parliament on Tuesday that the reason for updating the litter law and increasing the fines was to change people’s behaviour.
“If you litter, you pay,” Tabuya said.
She said the fivefold increase in litter fines was not because the government wanted people’s money.
“We would rather collect zero dollars in litter fines, because zero dollars in fines would mean people are doing the right thing.”
The government will be strengthening the network of Litter Prevention Officers, including officers from municipal councils, the Fiji Police Force and the Land Transport Authority, she said.
“We will track how many notices are issued, where offences are occurring and whether behaviour is changing,” she said.
Tabuya said they would do this because the government does not want to simply assume the law is working.
“We want to prove that [the law] is working.”
The enforcement of the updated litter law takes effect on 1 September 2026.
Last month, the Fijian government approved the National Integrated Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy (2026-2035), the country’s national roadmap for the next decade.
