Samoa is facing a growing waste management challenge, but small efforts by individuals can significantly impact the country's recycling progress, according to Makoto Yamashita, a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expert.

Yamashita highlighted that while Samoa has a recycling system, recycling remains a challenge. However, lessons from Japan suggest that change is possible with proper education and collective effort.

“In Japan, it took over 50 years to develop the recycling culture we have today, but it’s still ongoing,” said Yamashita.

"We need each individual's effort for those recycles to be recycled. So, help in any way possible. Put even plastic bottles in the cages at the small shops next to it."

An initiative in Samoa is the 3Rs+Return concept promoted under the JICA-supported JPRISM 3 (Japan’s Technical Cooperation Project for the Promotion of Regional Initiatives on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries). The initiative encourages people to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, while also focusing on the Return of recyclable materials. 

However, economic viability remains a major concern. Unlike metals, which have high value and cover the cost of export, plastic waste is often not economically viable to recycle due to high shipping costs. Since plastic is a low-value material, the cost of transporting it to recycling facilities overseas often exceeds its worth. 

"For example, onions, scrap metals, they're valuable. The value of the metal itself exceeds the shipping costs or all other costs related to the export. But regarding the plastic, plastic isn't worth much. It's really cheap," said Yamashita.

"So when you try to export, those shipping costs weigh over the value itself." 

This challenge is particularly severe for island nations like Samoa, where shipping costs are significantly higher compared to larger, mainland countries.

"But there are a few initiatives in Samoa already that try to get the plastic out. For example, one is called the Moana Taka Partnership with Swire Shipping," 

Yamashita said Samoa was exploring a waste levy on imported goods to generate funds for recycling and disposal initiatives. Additionally, international partnerships such as the Moana Taka Partnership and Coca-Cola’s PET bottle collection program are helping facilitate the export of plastic waste that would otherwise remain in landfills.