eTrash Disposal Issues in American Samoa

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eTrash Disposal Issues in American Samoa

• Hotavia Gingerlei Porter
• PLAN 625 Advanced Seminar in Environmental
  Studies
• Spring 2005
• University of Hawaii, Manoa

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Solid Waste Disposal Issues in American Samoa
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Overview

• Introduction
• Organizational Roles
• Current Situation
• Best Practices for Solid Waste Management in the
  Pacific
• Recommendations

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Where is American Samoa?
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Where is American Samoa?

• Political Status Unorganized Unincorpated
  Territory
• Population 63,100
• Seven Islands Tutuila, Aunuu, Ofu, Olosega,
  Tau, Rose Atoll Swains Island
• Culture FaaSamoa
• Economy Government Tuna Canneries

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Approach

• Interviews and Site Visitations
• eTrash Disposal in American Samoa Survey
• Disposal Policies at Departmental Level
• Disposal Policies for electronic equipment
• Population Technical Staff of ASG through the
  Pacific ICT Academy

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Current Situation
1. NO Policies Procedures for eTrash Disposal
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Current Situation
2. NO Designated Disposal Site For Hazardous
Materials
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Current Situation
3. Scrap Metal Household Trash 4. No Accurate
Study on Solid Waste Management
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Current Situation
5. NIMBY Mentality
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Office of Property Management

• ASG Departmental Functions
• Administration
• Inventory
• Will-Property
• Disposal
• ASG Disposal Procedures
• Board of Survey

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American Samoa Power Authority

• Transfer of Service - March 1995
• Public Private Effort
• Solid Waste Division operates two front end bin
  loaders and maintains solid waste collection
  sites
• Collection Costs
• Residential - 3.00
• Small General Service - 48.00
• Large General Service - 280.00
• Industrial Determined by Weight of Loads

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Solid Waste Management in Am. Samoa

• Lacks Adequate Treatment of Solid Wastes
• Solid Waste Not Sorted
• No Recycling
• Burning Prohibited
• Limited Resources
• Communal Behavior

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Solid Waste Management in Am. Samoa

• A 1996 survey of solid waste in American Samoa
  predicted daily collection would reach twenty
  tons per day by 1999. Today, more than 65 tons of
  solid waste are collected.
• 2004 BOD Directive to Conduct Solid Waste
  Analysis
• Education and Awareness

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EPA Recommended Solid Waste Management Strategies

• Source Reduction
• Recycling and Compositing
• Landfills and Combustion Facilities

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Recommendations

• Identify and Recognize the Need
• Education and Training
• HR Development

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Acknowledgements

• Office of Property Management
• ASPA Solid Waste Division
• American Samoa Power Authority
• American Samoa Government
• Environmental Protection Agency