Fiji’s government rejects a proposal by an Australian billionaire to ship non-recyclable rubbish to Fiji for burning and energy generation, amid criticism from local communities and tourism-related stakeholders. The plan would bring waste from across the region and process about 900,000 tonnes of waste annually using an incinerator in Fiji. Opponents, including traditional landowners and tourism operators, say the proposal amounts to “waste colonialism.” Villagers and other critics frame the plan as turning Fiji into a dumping site for other countries’ trash, particularly given the country’s appeal to visitors. Multiple outlets report that the government’s decision follows the public backlash and resistance to having regional waste shipped to the island for incineration. While the proposal is presented as a waste-to-energy solution, Fiji’s authorities choose not to approve the offshore waste import and burning scheme, leaving the question of how to manage non-recyclable waste in the region unresolved.