American Samoa’s ban on the importation and sale of polystyrene foam containers was the topic of a presentation by staff of the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) at an event hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) in Apia.
This was the inaugural Circularity, Innovation, Culture, Learning and Environment (CIRCLE) Expo, highlighting the challenges, solutions and achievements of the 15 Pacific countries and territories which participated.
One of the core objectives of the CIRCLE Expo was to identify successes and challengers faced by the region in the management of single-use plastics.
ASEPA’s Faamamata Meredith and Liu Lafaele presented on the successful enactment of Public Law 38-12, signed into law on February 6, 2024, by former Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, banning the importation of polystyrene foam containers in the territory.
The presentation highlighted the different stages of the campaign, beginning with drafting the legislation, followed by efforts to educate both the public and business community, and concluding with the enactment and enforcement phases. The enforcement phase was particularly notable due to the law’s ability to rigorously implement and guarantee efficient handling of difficult waste streams in the territory. In addition, ASEPA also addressed the growing concern regarding e-waste in American Samoa and emphasized collaborative efforts between the agency and the SPREP secretariat for its efficient management.
The visit to Apia also provided an opportunity to engage with the leaders of SPREP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) to promote partnership and enhance collaboration aimed at addressing the environmental needs in both island countries.
ASEPA Director Edna Asalele Noga highlighted the essence of teamwork to achieve exceptional outcomes. “Our responsibility as caretakers of the environment arises from our divinely bestowed ability to share, safeguard, and, above all, nurture. We are genuinely fortunate for the efforts of the secretariat, which goes to great lengths beyond borders to promote sustainable development throughout the Pacific region. The expo and our trip to Samoa demonstrated that responsibility knows no boundaries and is a collective commitment among all Pacific island nations.”
