2011/07/24
By Shenton Thomas De Silva
Skudai students learn to reuse, reduce and recycle, with accent on creativity
The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMP) and Scientex Foundation recently organised the 3Rs Awareness Programme 2011 contest at SJK(C) Kuo Kuang 2, in Johor Baru.
The contest offers awards for best essay, poster drawing, innovation from recycled materials and public speaking.
The contest was launched on April 11 by the National Solid Waste Management Department director-general Datuk Nadzri Yahaya.
Six schools -- four primary and two secondary -- from Skudai took part in the contest.
It was the second such programme organised by the association. The first was held last year and involved five schools in Kuala Lumpur.
MPMA chairman Lim Chun Yow said the aim of the contest was to inculcate awareness of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) among the youth.
"We want to promote proper waste management information among the young. We will also continue to be an active advocate in waste management issues in the country," he said at his office in Taman Anggerik, Skudai, Johor.
The association has also organised 3Rs awareness campaigns for schools and the public.
"Among the campaigns was the '3Rs Plastic Bag' which was endorsed by Housing and Local Department Ministry," he said.
MPMA executive director S.T. Giam said students from the participating schools were taught about the 3Rs through the use of books, videos and posters.
"We also put recycling bins at the school and then got the rag-and-bones man to weigh the collected items," said Giam.
She expressed hope that the students would also get their parents to adopt environmentally friendly habits, adding that the association also organises 3Rs programmes for universities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Giam thanked Scientex Foundation for sponsoring the event and the panel of judges from Universiti Teknologi Malaysian and Petrochemicals Sdn Bhd for their support.
Winner of the public speaking award R. Nanthini, 17, of SMK Skudai said, recycling was an important matter that should not be overlooked.
"My family and I recycle at home. I see the students in my school recycle," she said.
She won RM300.
Chief judge for the essay competition Vincent D'Silva said: "I was inundated with entries in a myriad of writing styles and context. This made it enjoyable for the judges to vet the entries and select the best.
"I must say it was not an easy task," he said.
The prize went to Tan Jo Wen, 16 of SMK Taman Mutiara Rini. She collected RM150.
At the award-presentation ceremony, MPMA president Lim Kok Boon said the programme in Johor collected triple the amount of recyclable items compared with last year.
"I believe the programme has gained momentum because more schoolchildren are showing interest in it.
"For the record, we collected 26.4 tonnes of paper, 0.6 tonnes of plastics and 0.04 tonnes of aluminium cans with a total collection value of RM12,350," he said.
He added that the programme also provided the opportunity for the students to find creative ways to implement the 3Rs.
Scientex Bhd Group of Companies managing director Lim Peng Jin in his speech, advised against the the use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
"We should reduce the carbon footprint by the use of renewable energy," said the Trustee member of Scientex Foundation.
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