Rotary Club of Savusavu in Action

The Rocket Burn Barrel project was initiated by the Savusavu Rotary Club as a way to help Fiji clean up the plastic waste and pollution which foul our communities and waters. Burning plastic in the open creates toxic gases which poison our children, our families, and our air and water. Burying plastic pollutes the land and water over 1,000’s of years.

The Rocket Barrel burns at over 700C, well higher than the 500C needed to destroy most plastic in normal use, and gives off virtually no smoke or toxic fumes. In the picture above the barrel on the left is a normal, simple burn barrel. The one on the right is the Rocket Barrel.

The design is simple. It only requires 2 steel drums, some screws and bolts, and uses basic tools such as an angle grinder and a drill. A Rocket Barrel can be built in as little as 5 hours by our team of local workers.  Our hope at the Rotary is to have these widely used all through Cakaudrove.  In 2024 we delivered 38 Rocket Burn Barrels around the province which have the potential to safely destroy over 380,000 plastic bottles this year.

The Rocket Barrels do cost money to build and we employ local men to build them. They also need parts, including empty barrels,  and we need to recover those costs. Businesses, villages and individuals wanting a barrel will be asked to contribute to that cost and to support this mission for a cleaner Fiji. The Rotary Club does not make a profit. All monies collected go to building more barrels for more sites so more people benefit. 

Use the "Contact Us" to get your own.

We are happy to share the complete plans for the barrel with anyone who would like to build their own.

This project recently won  the Ragitoto  Trophy at the District Changeover in New Zealand on 29 June, 2024. The  award was given to the Club that has completed the most significant  environmental project within the Rotary Year.  The district covers New Zealand and many of the Pacific Island nations.