The American Samoa Illegal Dumping Task Force is teaming up with villages around the territory as they intensify their efforts to keep American Samoa clean.
Villages helping villages is the motto of the Task Force, a group established two years ago to combat the problem of illegal dumping.
The task force, has teamed up with the Office of Samoan Affairs, ASG agencies and the National Park of American Samoa. Many village mayors make up this group.
A release from the task force said that with the support of villages, they identify and clean up illegal dump sites.
They also install “No Dumping” signs and surveillance cameras at problem sites and work together to spread the word about a problem plaguing our islands.
This task force started out with five villages and continues to grow with every cleanup.
Village mayors, District Chiefs, District Governors, along with ASG agencies have all committed significant time and energy to help solve the problem.
Last week the task force took action to clean up an illegal dumping site on the east side of the island.
The slopes along the road in the village of Amouli have long been a site where households, contractors and others dump construction debris, auto parts, and kitchen trash. Metal debris and broken glass were removed from the steep slopes near the shoreline that pollutes the coral reefs and the fishery.
“No Dumping” signs were also installed in these areas for public awareness.
“The members of the task force stand together to defeat those that might ruin the land and water for us all. It is truly villages helping villages,” said the release.
By partnering with the task force, villages and agencies are increasing their efforts to work together and send a message to the people who are illegally dumping.
The message is simple says the task force, “Keep American Samoa Clean”.
