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Recycling of waste materials in the Pacific Islands is an economic challenge. The islands are remote, populations and quantities of material generated as waste are comparatively small; shipping costs are high and the recyclable materials will have to be exported for industrial processing.

Since 2000, J-PRISM has been developing human resources and reinforcing administrative systems for solid waste management in the island states of the Pacific region.

The Government of Fiji has advocated the "coexistence of a sustainable society and the environment" as one of its basic policies. Furthermore, in June 2008, the government published its “National Solid Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan, 2008 – 2010” which aims to minimize waste, establish appropriate solid waste management (SWM) and reduce their environmental footprint. To achieve these basic policies, the Fiji Government has conducted a “Waste minimization and recycling promotion project” from October 2008, working out of the Lautoka City Council (LCC) and Nadi Town Council (NTC). The Department of Environment (DOE) decided to move ahead with waste minimization and recycling nationwide by promoting the 3Rs while building a sustainable Solid Waste Management (SWM), as stated in the National SWM Strategy 2011 – 2014 which was revised strategy endorsed by cabinet in 15th August, 2011. Therefore, the DOE prepared this 3R Guideline as a national policy to promote 3Rs.

The seriousness of waste problems in Pacific Small Island Countries is rapidly increasing and has lead people to understand the importance of executing proper waste management and urgently taking proper actions. Various initiatives aimed at solving problems concerning municipal waste have been taken and progress made, however, there are still many problems caused by other wastes which have yet to be addressed.