The head of Samoa's environment ministry says the business community is largely behind the country's move to ban single-use plastic.
Beach with coral reef and black volcanic rocks on south side of Upolu, Samoa Islands Photo: Copyright: mvaligursky / 123RF Stock Photo
The government plans to ban plastic bags and straws from next year, with the possibility that it will extend to include styrofoam, plastic plates and cups.
The acting chief executive of the ministry, Seumalo Afele Faiilagi, said retailers, the hospitality industry and government departments had already been consulted, and expressed their support
He said they recognised the country couldn't sit by as the ocean was plagued by plastic.
"What's happening around the globe in terms of the vast ocean will actually effect our small islands, especially with our concern that the marine resources, [which] our local people depends on for their subsistence living through their fishing and so forth. So it's really a concern for us to address the issues of plastic pollution."
Seumalo Afele Faiilagi said some concerns still needed to be ironed out before January, when the ban kicks in.