School takes part in recycling awareness programme
KUCHING: A solid waste education committee comprising Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd recently introduced and carried out a solid waste education and recycling awareness programme at SK Garland.
As the latest school under MPP to adopt the programme in its on-going commitment towards becoming a green school, students and staff have to segregate waste from the point-of-generation. The school is also an active member the PALS Club, an environmental club for schools established by Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak.
MPP deputy chairman Dato Ahmad Ibrahim said while the council is aware that solid waste and environmental management is nothing new but remains the priority of the council to raise public awareness and encourage members of the community to look after the environment together.
“The practice of recycling and maintaining cleanliness of our living environment should start from ourselves and we must educate our children to do the same at home and in school,” he said during the closing of the programme.
Meanwhile, Trienekens Health, Safety & Environment senior manager Harris Michael Deho explained that the programme was introduced to educate pupils on the 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) concept and best practices in solid waste management.
Since the start of the programme, the school has successfully collected about 415kg of recyclables comprising used papers, plastics and aluminium.
“We must commend the students and teachers of SK Garland for their initiative and commitment in carrying out the programme successfully and hope they have gained valuable awareness and knowledge. We hope that recycling can become our lifestyle toward sustainable, clean and healthy living,” he said.
In addition to waste separation and scheduled collection of recyclables, Trienekens also organised additional environmentthemed educational activities such as an awareness talk, Amazing Green Race game, interclass most collected recyclables contest, colouring, poster design and eco-fashion competitions as well as other green initiatives for the school.
During the closing, Ahmad and Harris presented a certificate of participation to SK Garland headmaster Elvan Ong Kim Lai and prizes to winners of the various competitions held.
Also present were MPP Public Health, Environment and Municipal Services committee chairman Ahkim Sarok and NREB Sarawak Environment Control cfficer Burhanuddin Suai