AMERICAN SAMOA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PARTICIPATES IN CIRCLE EXPO 2025

AS-EPA delegation pictured with Samoa's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) Chief Executive Officer Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown Reupena and her team.

June 03, 2025

The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (AS-EPA) represented American Samoa in this year’s inaugural Circularity, Innovation, Recovery, Culture, Learning, and Environment (CIRCLE) Expo 2025 hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) in Apia, Samoa last week. The CIRCLE Expo is directed by the secretariat under its Waste Management and Pollution Control priority. The event highlighted the challenges, solutions, and achievements of 16 Pacific countries and territories who participated in the inaugural gathering. The event featured presentations, Talanoa sessions on issues such as recyclable materials, organic materials, asbestos management, healthcare waste management, e-waste management, used oil management, bulky waste, and disaster waste.

One of the core objectives of the expo aimed at identifying the successes and challenges faced by the region in the management of single-used plastics. American Samoa’s Fa’amamata Meredith and Liu Lafaele presented on the successful enactment of Public Law 38-12 that was signed into law on February 6, 2024, by former Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, banning the importation of polystyrene foam containers in the territory. The presentation highlighted the different stages of the campaign, beginning with the drafting phase, followed by efforts to educate both the public and business community, and concluding with the enactment and enforcement phases. The enforcement phase was particularly notable due to the law’s ability to rigorously implement and guarantee the efficient handling of difficult waste streams in the territory. In addition, AS-EPA also addressed the increasing concern regarding e-waste in American Samoa and emphasized the collaborative efforts of the agency and the secretariat for its efficient management.

The visit to Apia also provided a chance to engage with the leaders of SPREP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) to promote partnership and enhance collaboration aimed at addressing the environmental needs in both island countries. Director Edna Asalele Noga highlighted the essence of teamwork to attain exceptional outcomes, she said “Our responsibility as caretakers of the environment arises from our divinely bestowed ability to share, safeguard, and, above all, to nurture. We are genuinely fortunate for the efforts of the secretariat, which goes to great lengths beyond border to promote sustainable development throughout the Pacific region. The expo and our trip to Samoa demonstrated that responsibility knows no boundaries and is a collective commitment among all Pacific Island nations.”

For more information, please contact AS-EPA at 633-2304 or email info@epa.as.gov.