More than 80,000 used PET bottles and aluminium cans were collected during the latest Return and Pay Saturday Initiative held in central Apia, a joint pilot project by the Samoa and Tokelau Association of Recyclers (STAR) and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP).

The initiative, launched at the end of April, offers members of the public five sene for every beverage container returned. According to STAR President Nancy Vito, the first event resulted in the collection of 34,000 containers. The significant increase in participation last weekend highlighted growing public interest in recycling.

“This was more than doubled on Saturday, which is a great sign our local community is keen to collect and return their beverage bottles and cans,” said Vito. “Families, church youth groups, and environmentally concerned citizens earned a total of $4,000 for their efforts.”

The collected containers are transported to the Coca-Cola Distribution Centre at Vaitele for crushing and aggregation before being shipped overseas for recycling. Organisers emphasise that the goal is to divert recyclable materials from the Tafaigata Landfill and reduce littering, particularly in coastal and urban areas.

“This initiative is just one of many solutions that will address Samoa’s plastic problem,” Vito added. “STAR continues to collect and stockpile plastics and aluminium cans in an effort to keep waste from entering our environment.”

CCEP Samoa’s Moira Simi said the program reflects the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and extended producer responsibility.

“This is an important strategic initiative for us,” said Simi. “We are extremely happy to be in partnership with STAR as a progressive Samoan recycling organisation, and we look forward to continuing the program and extending it to other areas of Samoa.”

The three-month pilot program also supports broader efforts to promote public awareness, simple waste management practices, and circular economy principles across the country.