KUCHING, November 28: SK St Francis Xavier is the latest school to take part in the joint solid waste segregation and awareness programme organised by the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.
In a press statement today, MPP deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim disclosed that MPP is aware that the issue of solid waste and environmental management is nothing new, but it is in the council’s main agenda to raise public awareness on the matter and the responsibility of members of the community to look after the environment together.
“The practice of recycling and maintaining the cleanliness of our neighbourhood should start with our own initiatives, and we must educate and nurture our children to do the same at home and in school.
“It is our hope that a joint programme such as this, between the council, schools and Trienekens shall continue again next year to ensure that the awareness and good waste management habits can be sustained for generations to come,” he was reported as saying during the closing ceremony of the MPP-Trienekens School Recycling programme recently.
Meanwhile, Trienekens’ general manager for treatment and disposal, Simon Chow congratulated the students and teachers of SK St Francis Xavier for their participation and successfully implementing the programme since the beginning of the year.
He noted that prior to the programme, Trienekens had worked very closely with the residents of Kampung Seratau for many years.
“We are pleased to finally work with the nearby school together with MPP in promoting best waste management practices and awareness among the school children,” he added.
Chow also noted that through the programme, the students will learn to re-think about their role in creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment as well as share their knowledge at home and in the community.
The project also engages both students and teachers to practise segregating their school waste from the point-of-generation.
In addition to the waste separation practices and scheduled collection of recyclables, Trienekens also organised additional environment-themed educational activities such as awareness talks, Amazing Green Race game, an inter-class ‘most collected recyclables’ contest, colouring, poster design and eco-fashion competitions as well as other initiatives for the school.
During the event, Ahmad and Chow also presented prizes and certificates to the various competition winners while witnessed by SK St Francis Xavier headmistress, Lea Bancheng. — DayakDaily
