STUDENTS from various schools in Seberang Perai became the environmental saviours after collecting nearly 140 tonnes or 137,287.75kg of recyclable materials in a campaign.
Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) secretary Rosnani Mahmod said the haul was from efforts of students in nine pre-schools, 44 primary schools and 30 secondary schools during the sixth-month campaign from March 1 to Aug 30 this year.
“The third edition of the recycling campaign, organised by Fraser and Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) and MBSP, and supported by the Penang Education Department and Tetra Pak (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, was aimed at spreading awareness to students on how to help protect the environment through recycling based on the 8Rs philosophy of Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Re-gift, Recover and Recycle.
“The increased number of participating schools and amount of recyclables collected during the campaign this year shows a greater awareness of the importance of good recycling habits among school children in Seberang Perai and how they can play a role in conserving the environment,” Rosnani said in her speech during a prize-giving ceremony at the MBSP building in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam today.
According to Rosnani, the winner in the preschool category was Tadika Interaktif, which clinched the RM500 grand prize with 90.19kg recorded per student.
“Last year’s winner, SJK (C) Kuang Yu seized the top spot once again in the primary school category after accumulating an average of 199.25kg of recyclables per student to win a cash prize of RM1,400.
“Meanwhile, SABK Al Madrasah Al Khairiah Al Islamiah took back the first spot in the secondary school category after dropping to second place last year with an accumulation of 15kg of recyclables per student, taking home RM1,400,” she added.
Other special awards were also given to the schools under categories like most aluminium recycled, most plastic recycled, most e-waste recycled, most beverage cartons recycled and the most creative recycling corners.
F&N corporate affairs manager Cariessa Goh said the recycling campaign this year received an overwhelming support from schools in Seberang Perai as students and teachers became more aware and dedicated than ever in making this year’s campaign a success.
“The number of participating schools just keeps on increasing year after year and students are getting more involved as well, which in turn, motivates us to work even harder to spread the cause.
“We hope that this campaign will continue to instil good recycling habits in the younger generation because we strongly believe that the youths of today are the ones that will have the power to create a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable future,” said Goh.
State Welfare, Caring Society, and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, who was also present during a prize-giving ceremony, said the holistic approach was important in saving Mother Earth.
“With this campaign, we can ensure that the young ones consistently recycle and this will eventually cultivate a generation which appreciates Mother Earth.
“We need to let the young ones know that our planet is precious and we should start recycling now for a healthy Penang,” he said in his speech before presenting the prizes to representatives from the winning schools.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis