22 Mar 2012

American Samoa officials call for public to uphold plastic bag ban

2:48 pm on 22 March 2012

The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency is urging members of the public to report businesses who are still using plastic shopping bags.

Five businesses have been cited under the plastic bag ban since the law took effect early last year.

The agency's legal counsel, Nathan Mease says the importance of enforcing the ban on plastic shopping bags is to protect American Samoa's land and ocean environments.

Samoa News reports Mr Mease as saying that the major issue officials are facing is that the stores are using plastic bags on weekends and after hours, when EPA officers are off work.

He said to combat this issue, the agency has begun evening and weekend patrols.