Let the challenge begin: A mascot from SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 (centre) posing with (from left) the school’s senior administrative assistant Mohd Fadzli Maswan, Pintar Foundation general manager Norzalina Masom, Mondelēz International corporate communications manager (Malaysia and Singapore) Beatrice Wang, and Bumi Waste Management (Trash4Cash) chief executive officer Shafreez Redza during the programme kickoff at the school on May 23.
SIX schools in the Klang Valley are in the running to be crowned champion for a good cause.
For six months, SK Seksyen 20, SK Seksyen 17, SK Padang Jawa, SK Taman Dato Harun 2, SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 and SK Tropicana will have their pupils aged 10 to 12 take part in an interclass and interschool competition, aiming to collect over 10 metric tonnes of plastic waste.
It is hoped that the hands-on sustainability experiences will instil lifelong, proactive recycling habits in the pupils.
Initiated by snacks company Mondelēz International, the Trash Right recycling programme seeks to build on the success of last year’s pilot programme, where SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 collected 1.33 metric tonnes in a three-month period.
The programme also focuses on raising awareness about the importance of a circular economy and educating young pupils on proper waste separation and recycling.
To officially kick off the initiative and encourage pupil participation, a workshop was recently organised in each school to educate pupils and teachers on effective plastic segregation practices.
Over the six-month period, a progress-tracking leaderboard will foster healthy competition among pupils and schools, motivating them to actively recycle plastics.
Plastics will be collected from each school on alternate weeks.
In a press release dated July 4, Mondelēz International said the programme was expanded this year to promote responsible plastic disposal and foster healthy competition among schools.
The company is also teaming up with Pintar Foundation, Trash4Cash and Lotus’s to raise awareness about different categories of plastics, proper recycling practices, and encourage responsible disposal within the community.
The Trash Right programme is part of Mondelēz International’s social impact project in South-East Asia, which stems from its recent partnership with Trash4Cash to address multi-layer plastic waste that is difficult to recycle mechanically in a short time frame.
Plastics from the programme will be diverted as feedstock for an eco-board project, transforming them into reusable eco-boards suitable for various applications, such as a lumber substitute and for furnishings.
Mondelēz International plans to announce the winning school at the end of this year.
It will also unveil a strategy for long-term sustainability and the continued success of all participating schools.
Future plans include further expanding the programme to more schools each year.
