A torn plastic bag drifts over a tropical coral reef causing a hazard to marine life such as turtles. Photo: 123RF
A Samoan government official says there has been an enthusiastic endorsement of the government's plastic bag ban.
The ban is already being widely applied but from this Wednesday the government said it would be actively policing the policy.
The principal waste environment officer for the Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment Sepoa Apo said businesses which flout the rules could face fines of up to 10,000 tala, or $US3,800.
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He said the ministry had made the public aware about the change and people and businesses were positive.
"From our public consultation they really support it, 100 percent support it, and the reasons why, the impacts of marine pollution from plastics, they are now aware of it."
Sepoa Apo said there would be a focus on the products that arrive in the supermarkets pre-packaged in plastic, and retailers would be asked to come up with alternatives.
He said some food items would be exempt for this ban.