Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (standing, seventh from left) and PETRONAS Chemicals Fertiliser Sabah CEO Abdullah Side (standing, sixth from left) with the winners of the Be Green waste management competition, SMK Pengiran Omar.
KOTA KINABALU: Students from four secondary schools in Sabah’s southwest Sipitang district learnt valuable lessons in responsible waste management.
The schools were SMK Sindumin, SMK Padang Berampah, SMK Pengiran Omar and SMK Pengiran Omar II.
They did so during the eight-week “Be Green” programme that was held by PETRONAS Chemicals Fertiliser Sabah Sdn Bhd in partnership with the Sipitang district education office and district council.
The company is a subsidiary of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Bhd.
“We hope the Be Green programme will continue to produce more students who are aware of the importance of recycling and waste management in their schools and even at home,” said PETRONAS Chemicals Fertiliser Sabah chief executive officer Abdullah Side during the programme’s closing on Tuesday (Nov 7).
He said the company remains committed to spreading awareness of the responsible use of plastics through the programme, which adopts the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) concept, in line with the global shift towards a circular economy.
Among the activities held were a talk and module on responsible waste management as well as a waste management competition, and a cleaning activity at Merintaman Beach.
A total of 9,827kg of waste was collected throughout the programme.
SMK Pengiran Omar II emerged champions in the waste management competition and took home the grand prize, which entailed a visit to Petrosains PlaySmart here and a demonstration of Petrosains activities at the school.
Established in 2013, Be Green is one of PETRONAS Chemicals Group's flagship social impact programmes.
It aims to create positive impacts on the society through education and collaborative recycling activities, driving the company’s aspirations towards realising its New Plastics Economy agenda.
It also promotes responsible waste management and 3R through engagements with schools and surrounding local communities in the company’s areas of operations.
The closing ceremony also featured a career talk and a briefing aimed at educating teachers and students about the proper handling of chemicals in school laboratories.
