A TV show promoting recycling and waste reduction has been launched and will be aired every Sunday evening on the National University of Samoa’s TV Channel and Facebook page.

The National University of Samoa (NUS) Vice Chancellor and President, Aiono Professor Alec Ekeroma told the Samoa Observer that the program is the university’s green initiative under their The Solution is Less Pollution Project.

"The Solution is Less Pollution Project is a green initiative by the National University of Samoa working with partners to raise awareness about protecting our environment and to encourage behavioural change toward sustainability efforts," said the Vice Chancellor.

"The main objective of this project is to promote and implement our three sustainable policies of no littering, no smoking and recycle.”

The NUS staff and students as well as the wider community in Samoa are the target audience, Aiono added.

He said the talk show is a key part of promoting the university’s policies and will feature four guest speakers from Samoa’s environment and waste industry, who will share and provide awareness on the different areas of their work.

“The guest speakers are from the Samoa Recycling Waste Management Association,  Samoa Conservation Society (SCS) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) besides NUS," the Vice Chancellor said.

The TV show’s first episode was already broadcast on Sunday using the NUS TV and Facebook page, he added.

“The next three episodes will be featured fortnightly on Sunday at 8pm so please be sure to tune in," Aiono said.

SCS President James Atherton is of the view that reducing waste is everyone’s responsibility and as a contributor to the problem, it is also everyone’s responsibility to be part of the solution.

"Our environmental footprint including our waste is everyone's responsibility, we are all part of the problem and therefore we are all part of the solution," Mr. Atherton said.

"If we can all make small changes in the way we manage waste we can significantly reduce the impact of that waste on the environment, and ultimately on us too.”

The SCS President then applauded the initiative and efforts of the university to raise awareness on environmental waste.

"The SCS applauds NUS efforts to promote recycling, reducing and reusing waste items and hope the Samoan public will  join this important effort,” he said. 

"We were very happy to share the work we are currently doing at SCS and how we are working together with the University to conserve Samoa’s biodiversity and natural heritage.

"The Solution is Less Pollution’ talk show will consist of five episodes featuring different environmental groups from around Samoa, promoting the university’s new green policies, with a focus on waste management.”