Contest to tackle waste disposal
AS we struggle to clear waterways of discarded plastic and battle increasing islands of floating rubbish, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is looking towards secondary school students to be the next generation to save the planet.
The annual “Water Vision” contest returns once again to engage schools, students and local communities nationwide to tackle the serious issue of solid waste disposal, especially plastic.
Students are required to work in teams of four to lead a recycling movement within their schools or local community, where they will set up a plastic recycling centre and initiate a series of collection, sorting and disposal activities while educating their peers on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle to prevent plastic from ending up in our waterways and oceans.
Held in collaboration with CocaCola Malaysia, the efforts the students undertake for their “Water Vision” recycling efforts have to be submitted in an eight-minute multimedia highlight in either Bahasa Malaysia or English to MNS by July 31.
The “Water Vision” programme by Coca-Cola and MNS began in 2007 to create awareness and instil responsibility among the young for the need to conserve the planet’s limited resources – water. A decade later, the initiative has now turned to focus on plastic as one of the biggest polluters of the oceans.
In line with the programme’s aim to change mindsets and encourage sustainable living, the winning school will receive a rainwater harvesting system that can be used as a free source of water for many purposes including general cleaning, gardening and sanitation.
Meanwhile, the top three teams and their advisory teachers will be treated to an unforgettable threeday two-night nature camp experience organised by MNS. Winners of last year’s “Water Vision” were recently given a taste of island life when they spent their time at a nature camp in Pulau Ketam.
SMK Taman Desa 2 from Rawang, Selangor emerged as the champion with their recycling efforts during the contest period, while SM St. Michael from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and SMK Darul Ehsan from Batu Caves, Selangor took second and third place respectively.
To take part, e-mail to ee_programs@mns.org.my or visit http:// watervisionprogramme.weebly.com or https://www.mns.my/water-vision/. Contest registration closes on July 31.