19 December 2025, Apia - A monumental milestone in Samoa’s efforts to promote sustainable waste management practices and environmental education is being celebrated with the official launch of the Tafa’igata Waste Management Education Center on Friday.
A first of its kind and designed to be a hub for waste management training, educational events, and community engagement, the newly appointed Minister for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Hon. Ale Vena Ale, cut the ribbon to open the Center, and lauded the vision behind the initiative.
“This Center is a place where schools, youth groups, churches, and communities can learn about good waste practices, marine litter prevention, responsible consumption, and recycling,” said Hon. Ale.
Managed by the Waste Management and Pollution Control Division of MNRE, the Center was constructed under the Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) Project – financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“As we open this Waste Management Education Center, let us reaffirm our collective responsibility as custodians of our land and ocean in the face of the triple planetary crises. May this Center inspire informed choices, strengthen environmental values, and support Samoa’s vision for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future,” Minister Ale concluded.
At the launch, Minister Ale was joined by the Ambassador of France to Samoa, His Excellency Guillaume Lemoine, and SPREP Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, reflecting the strong commitment to environmental sustainability in Samoa and the Pacific region.
Ambassador Lemoine reiterated the goal of the SWAP Project to address cost effective and sustainable management of waste and pollution, not just in Samoa, but throughout the Pacific and around the world.
“France is happy and proud to have participated in this project, together with MNRE, SPREP, and the communities. Doing that, France reaffirms it is a key-player in the Pacific because this project we are opening this afternoon is part of a bigger one, called SWAP, a regional project on waste management,” he said.
“I acknowledge the French Development Agency, ’Agence Française de Développement, for its major contribution and funding. This is a perfect example of an effective cooperation between donors, with the government for the benefit of the communities.”
SPREP Director General Mr Nawadra congratulated Samoa on the opening of the Centre, which he described as a symbol of renewed commitment to environmental stewardship, circularity, community empowerment, and regional leadership.
“This Education Center is not only about managing waste, it is also about transforming how we produce, consume, and value resources through a circular economy approach. This approach protects the environment, reduces pressure on landfills, limits pollution, and at the same time creates local jobs, strengthens small enterprises, and supports economic development within our communities,” he said.
“SPREP remains fully committed to continuing our close collaboration with the Government of Samoa, the Government of France, and all partners to advance sustainable waste management, protect our oceans, and safeguard the wellbeing of our Pacific communities.”
Samoa’s leadership in sustainable waste management practices and environmental education was on display during the launch.
As part of an art exhibition by the Tiapapata Art Center, guests were presented with notebooks produced in Samoa using recycled paper. Recycled materials used in the creation of artworks, jewellery, and other items demonstrated that recycling is not only an environmental solution, but also a driver for local industry, skills development, and job creation.
The ma’ilo supplied by the Tanoalei‘a Community, and woven baskets produced by the Waste Recycling Environment Network (WREN), were used as food containers instead of single-use plastic.
The launch also featured an exhibition of 15 photographs by Myka Stanley, of M.S. Media, which will remain on display at the Center. The photographs showcase Samoa’s waste management and treatment systems.
The Chief Executive Officer of MNRE, Ms Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown-Reupena, welcomed all the guests and thanked everyone for their support in Samoa’s efforts to promote sustainable waste management practices and environmental education.
The launch included a site visit to the Tafa’igata Landfill and Waste Management Facilities, allowing guests to gain a deeper understanding of the waste management systems Samoa has in place.
ABOUT SWAP
SWAP2 contributes to the goals of the Cleaner Pacific Strategy by improving waste infrastructure, building capacity and fostering regional collaboration. The nine SWAP Pacific islands are Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.
The Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific – Phase 2 (SWAP2) Project is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) https://www.afd.fr and executed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) www.sprep.org
For further information please visit: https://swap.sprep.org /.or contact Ms. Julie Pillet, SWAP Project Manager, at [email protected]