Styrofoam products now banned in Samoa

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There’s mixed reactions as Samoa starts enforcing a ban on Styrofoam products.
Samoa Observer reports the ban became effective February 28th with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment monitoring the initiative. The Samoan government deferred the ban from last year because of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The ban is part of the Waste (Plastic Ban) Management Regulation which was officially endorsed by the government in 2018 to manage the plastic problem in Samoa and protect the country’s oceans and marine environment.
While there have been complaints that the changes would reduce their profit margins, most small business owners have adapted as best as they can.
Small store owner Mikaele Lositele said the ban will make things harder for them. He said that they were already struggling during the state of emergency and while the new change is good for the environment, it will affect their business financially.
However, another store owner Serah Telesia said that they shifted to using paper cups a couple of months ago. “There have been a couple of complaints such as the cups can get very hot when filled with hot water for coffee or noodles. But I do agree that this is a good initiative to save our environment from plastics and Styrofoam products. Alternatives have already been identified and are available at our local stores,” she added.
Samoa started banning single-use plastic bags, packing bags and straws in January 2019.