Marina Keil (front) of SRWMA is also at the forefront of the Women of Waste initiative.
Apia, Samoa – WOW, or Women of Waste, is a unique initiative that was launched today to mark this year’s International Women’s Day. The launch brought together civil society organizations, private companies and entrepreneurs, government officials, and development partners at the Taumeasina Island Resort.
Piloted by the Samoa Recycling and Waste Management Association (SWRMA), and supported by its partners, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UK Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office, WOW is a taskforce aiming to promote women’s economic empowerment and activism in the waste management sector.
The launch of WOW also attracted a high-profile guest from the United Kingdom – the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, who spoke at the event.
“The older generations that I am part of hold great responsibility in damaging our environment. It is our collective responsibility to take action for present and future generations. I wish to be a voice on the global stage to make people aware of Samoa, the expectations and needs of their people as well as their energy and actions for change,” she said during her keynote speech.
Waste is a growing issue for the country, with more than 140,000 tonnes of solid waste being disposed in Samoa every year. Not all make it to landfill, with an estimated 1,900 tonnes of plastic waste alone leaking into the environment. This unmanaged waste threatens the health of Samoa’s ecosystems – the same ecosystems that provide the food we eat, water we drink and
Morry Tuigamala & Marina Keil.
air we breathe. Action is needed more than ever to implement the three “Rs” – reduce, reuse, and recycle – to safeguard the integrity of Samoa’s natural resources.
Labour division tends to reflect gender stereotypes, and the waste management sector is no exception. Women are traditionally responsible for managing household waste as part of their daily chores, making them more exposed to health risks linked to burning fumes and handling chemicals.
Yet the waste management workforce remains largely male-dominated. According to the 2022 Samoa Labour Force and Child Labour Survey, only 25.4% of the “water supply,
sewerage and waste management sector” workforce were women. They often face additional barriers to access opportunities when waste management jobs are formalized, missing out on protections and social benefits.
But change is on the way. More and more women are emerging as leaders in this space and are taking action to defend their environment.
As Samoa aims to upscale its circular economy, the “Women of Waste” taskforce aims to ensure this emerging sector enables safe, inclusive, and diverse livelihood opportunities and workplaces in Samoa, identifying and mitigating the bias and barriers to employment. It is the first formal initiative of its kind in the Pacific Islands.
As part of the launch, panel discussions featuring recycling organisations, community leaders, government officials, upcycling entrepreneurs, and youth activists were held around waste management challenges and opportunities,
The first panel discussed “Challenges to gender equality and social inclusion in Samoa’s waste management sector”. It highlighted the growing number of women working in the industry, including in leadership roles, despite the stereotypes and additional barriers.
Women are often the powerhouses of communities, and more support is needed to catalyze waste reduction and management initiatives in Samoan villages.
The second panel focused on “Women-led innovation in Samoa’s circular economy”. It showcased the diversity and creativity of local initiatives undertaken by women in the sector, from using fish skin as leather for crafts, creating upcycled products from old fabrics,
transforming glass waste to make cement for roads, selling reusable feminine hygiene products, to putting up a deposit system for beer bottles.
“UNDP is proud to sponsor this event and the launch of Women of Waste – the very first initiative of this kind in Samoa. We look forward to supporting this taskforce to help engage
communities, empower women with safe, green jobs, and take down the barriers to equal decision-making in this space.
Today is the day to discuss together the structural obstacles that women face, but also to celebrate their collective achievements. I am amazed by the creativity and energy shown by these women to give waste a second life,” said Aliona Niculita, UNDP Resident Representative.
“This movement welcomes all willing to drive change, break down barriers and create new career prospects for this generation and the next.
We want to create dignified and safe green jobs that benefit both the planet and the people,” said Marina Keil, SWRMA founder.