Samoa PacWastePlus Project

E-waste management is a serious issue due to the hazardous component of the items and the limited infrastructures in Pacific Islands countries to safely handle it. Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment sought to introduce an E-Waste take back system in the country that will allow for the collection, safe dismantling, export, and recycling of End-Of-Life electronic products.

Project Description

Situation in 2018

Without viable options for recovery/recycling of End-of-Life Electronics in Samoa, E-Waste is currently landfilled, burnt, or illegally dumped resulting in environmental contamination & pollution placing Samoa’s local communities at risk.

What was the RMI Project About?

The Samoa project aims to improve the sustainable management of e-waste through the following key outputs/activities:
• Strengthening policy & legislation: Develop E-waste Policy & Regulation
• Increased community awareness program: Develop National Education & Awareness (i.e., strengthen environmental and health impact of improper E-Waste disposal & the new collection system for E-Waste
• Establish dismantling and storage facility for safe handling, storage & proper disposal
• Training on e-waste dismantling (i.e., support circular economy & job creation)

Future Situation

Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment sought to have an effective and self-funding solution for the collection and recycling of e-waste and to enable the collection, dismantling, and export of electronic waste.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1.  Design Recyclable Take Back System to sustainably manage waste in the country.
2.  Procure and install a storage facility for e-waste collection to support local recycling initiatives.
3.  Build local capacity on  understanding of responsible management of e-waste and recyclables.

Key Outcomes from Project Implementation

Key Outcomes & Impacts

The creation of an enabling environment and the strengthening of government-led approaches to sustainable waste management have been 
significantly advanced through a series of strategic interventions focused on the development of sustainable financing mechanisms and  targeted  infrastructure investments. The Feasibility Study on the introduction of sustainable financing for waste management provided the Government of Samoa with a comprehensive foundation for informed policymaking, paving the way for the implementation of financially viable and environmentally sound waste management strategies. The development of an e-waste take-back system which addressed the growing challenge of electronic waste complemented the provision of critical infrastructure (e-waste storage facility).

Community engagement played a central role in supporting these efforts. A series of outreach activities—including community e-waste amnesty events, radio talkback shows, social media awareness campaigns, and training sessions with youth groups—helped to raise public awareness and foster a culture of shared responsibility in e-waste management.

By integrating policy, infrastructure, and community engagement, the government is now better equipped to implement long-term, impactful waste solutions that safeguard environmental and public health, while promoting economic and social sustainability.

Key Project Achievements

• 1 Drafting Instruction on Product Stewardship Act
• 3 Drafting Instructions on Product Stewardship Regulations
• 1 E-Waste Storage Facility
• 8 training courses delivered increasing capacity of Samoa staff to safely manage healthcare waste, hazardous waste and hazmat, e-waste, and waste collection and monitoring.
• 1.4 tonnes of e-waste removed from local communities

Supporting Documents

The following table provides a complete list of all documents developed during the project, including technical guidelines, training materials, reports, and communication resources. Where possible, links to the documents hosted on the SPREP website have been included to enable direct access.