The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) is the recipient of two E-waste collection units courtesy of the International Labour Organisation (I.L.O.).

Funding for the two specialised waste collection units from the I.L.O. was paid to local company Samoa Stationery and Books Ltd. 

They will be used to collect used toner and ink cartridges, which will then be shipped out of Samoa as part of the country’s sustainable management of E-waste.

The two waste collection units were handed over to the Ministry by S.S.A.B. Operations Manager, Nancy Alefosio and I.L.O. National Coordinator, Tomasi Peni, in a ceremony last Friday.

The Ministry’s Waste Management Coordinator, Ali'imuamua Setoa Apo, Chemical and Hazard Waste Management Division Principal Officer, Fiasosoitamalii Siaosi, and Darren Bartley received the donation on behalf of the M.N.R.E. at the Vaimea Ministry of Finance complex.

According to Ms. Alefosio, one of the two bins will be used to collect H.P. toners and ink cartridges as part of their Take Back Programme, which was launched in July this year. The other one will be used to store E-waste from other brands such as Kyocera, Cannon and Brother.

Ms. Alefosio said E-waste should be disposed properly to minimise its impact on the environment and the health of the local population.

“E-waste needs to be disposed of properly to minimize the danger it poses to our environment and our health,” she said. “On behalf of S.S.A.B. C.E.O. Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai and the company we thank International Labour Organisation for the funds that has made this project possible and MNRE for being on board."

In an appeal to other organisations, Ms. Alefosio said she hopes other can become part of the campaign to address the waste management. 

“As we move forward to improve and protect the environment we hope more organizations will come on board. We can use all the help we can get because when we work together, a lot can be accomplished.”

Aliimuamua acknowledged S.S.A.B. and the I.L.O. for their continuous support through such donations to protect Samoa’s pristine environment.