Waste Management and Pollution Control
Apia. Saturday 7 June. Despite the driving morning rain, community members living around the Vaisigano and Mulivai rivers combined forces with staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM)/Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to tackle the task of removing rubbish from the two major rivers, both of which empty out into the Apia Harbour.
In a highly coordinated effort, teams of willing hands collected all types of rubbish from in and along the two rivers. Rubbish was not sent directly to the landfill but brought to a central point in front of the government buildings where another team sorted through the rubbish to see just what it is that people are throwing into the rivers.
"The scale of the rubbish was quite astounding," says SPREP's Deputy Director General, Mr Kosi Latu, who was assisting with the cleanup. "Along with the expected household garbage, plastic, corrugated iron and Styrofoam, we had car doors, parts of prams and all sorts of material that have been quite obviously dumped in the area."
"It is very disappointing to see this," said Faleafaga Toni Tipamaa, of the MNRE. "Even though we had a cleanup just a few weeks ago, we have still managed to find so much rubbish in the same areas. Our drinking water comes from these same rivers and it is time we started respecting this natural resource."
"We urge people to make use of the regular rubbish collection that is provided by the Government and stop using the rivers as your dumpsite."
Regular rubbish collection is provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and most places have their rubbish collected twice each week. There are also recycling cages placed at supermarkets in the Apia area for plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
"A lot of what was collected could be recycled," said Mr Latu. "There is an expanding industry in Samoa for scrap metal, aluminium cans and even some types of plastic. People must start using these services rather than being lazy and dumping rubbish deliberately into rivers."
Saturday's cleanup was the first component of a wider programme aimed at keeping Apia's rivers and the harbour clean for the health and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. Rubbish being disposed directly into the Vaisigano and Mulivai Rivers is a major issue for the township of Apia as it is an eyesore, and during times of heavy rainfall, the rubbish either gets washed into the harbour or blocks the drains and causes flooding.
This first activity will be supported by a follow-up training for communities on plastic art, which will involve the recycling of plastic products into creative pieces of art that can be sold to tourists and the public. Community members will be encouraged to consider different ways to reduce their rubbish.
Funding for this programme is provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
For more information contact:
Nanette Woonton, SPREP. Ph: 66305 or email: [email protected]
Photo: C.Iacovino/SPREP
In a highly coordinated effort, teams of willing hands collected all types of rubbish from in and along the two rivers. Rubbish was not sent directly to the landfill but brought to a central point in front of the government buildings where another team sorted through the rubbish to see just what it is that people are throwing into the rivers.
Photo: C.Iacovino/SPREP
"The scale of the rubbish was quite astounding," says SPREP's Deputy Director General, Mr Kosi Latu, who was assisting with the cleanup. "Along with the expected household garbage, plastic, corrugated iron and Styrofoam, we had car doors, parts of prams and all sorts of material that have been quite obviously dumped in the area."
"It is very disappointing to see this," said Faleafaga Toni Tipamaa, of the MNRE. "Even though we had a cleanup just a few weeks ago, we have still managed to find so much rubbish in the same areas. Our drinking water comes from these same rivers and it is time we started respecting this natural resource."
"We urge people to make use of the regular rubbish collection that is provided by the Government and stop using the rivers as your dumpsite."
Regular rubbish collection is provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and most places have their rubbish collected twice each week. There are also recycling cages placed at supermarkets in the Apia area for plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
"A lot of what was collected could be recycled," said Mr Latu. "There is an expanding industry in Samoa for scrap metal, aluminium cans and even some types of plastic. People must start using these services rather than being lazy and dumping rubbish deliberately into rivers."
Saturday's cleanup was the first component of a wider programme aimed at keeping Apia's rivers and the harbour clean for the health and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. Rubbish being disposed directly into the Vaisigano and Mulivai Rivers is a major issue for the township of Apia as it is an eyesore, and during times of heavy rainfall, the rubbish either gets washed into the harbour or blocks the drains and causes flooding.
This first activity will be supported by a follow-up training for communities on plastic art, which will involve the recycling of plastic products into creative pieces of art that can be sold to tourists and the public. Community members will be encouraged to consider different ways to reduce their rubbish.
Funding for this programme is provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
For more information contact:
Nanette Woonton, SPREP. Ph: 66305 or email: [email protected]