F&N’S First Ever School Recycling Campaign In Melaka Inspires Young Eco-Leaders

Supported by the Melaka Tengah District Education Office, Melaka Department of Environment and Tetra Pak (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Kempen Kitar Semula F&N & MBMB 2018 offered an avenue for participating schools to gain a greater knowledge and understanding on the importance of recycling based on the 5R philosophy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink and Reinvent.
The six-month campaign encouraged students to start practising good recycling habits since young by empowering them with the relevant knowledge and resources to enable them to take ownership of their actions in ensuring a sustainable future for all.
The campaign’s closing and prize presentation ceremony was recently held to reward and acknowledge the young eco-warriors and their teachers for their hard earned effort, dedication and sacrifice in making the inaugural Kempen Kitar Semula F&N & MBMB 2018 a success.
According to Cariessa Goh, Corporate Affairs Manager of F&NHB, Kempen Kitar Semula F&N & MBMB 2018 has managed to get the children excited about recycling and make them realised how small changes can add up to create a big impact on the environment.
“We are extremely proud of the students’ hard work and commitment, under the guidance of their teachers in working together to support the campaign and improve recycling rates in Melaka. The teachers have told us that they could see changes in the students’ behavior as they started to become proactive in their efforts to recycle and share simple recycling tips with others in the school.
“We believe that Kempen Kitar Semula F&N & MBMB 2018 is a stepping stone to greater recycling awareness among the younger generation towards a cleaner and healthier environment in the state. We truly appreciate the students and teachers’ efforts in channeling their inner environmental spirit and kick-starting the recycling drive in their schools at the beginning of the campaign. Maintaining the recycling momentum is not easy but I am confident that the students will continue pursuing this good habit in their daily lives,” Goh added.
Kempen Kitar Semula F&N & MBMB 2018 drew 19 primary schools and 16 secondary schools across Melaka that competed against each other to collect the largest haul of recyclable materials per student while vying for RM22,660 in prize money.
It was a sweet victory for Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Pernu as they led the pack in the secondary school category, winning a cash prize of RM1,400. Trailing behind was Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Temu that were rewarded with a cash prize of RM1,300. Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Gajah Berang clinched third position and went home with a cash prize of RM1,200.
Cik Suriati Binti Mohd, secretary of the Recycling and Invention Club at Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Pernu expressed her surprised after the school topped the secondary school category. “This is truly a surprise but such a great honour for us. We joined the campaign with the aim of giving our best and as teachers, we hope to inspire our students to be passionate about taking care of the environment. I believe that the students will continue to carry the responsibility to ensure the practice of good recycling habits on a daily basis and set a good example for their juniors,” she said.
Sekolah Kebangsaan (P) Durian Daun claimed top spot in the primary school category and won a cash prize of RM1,400. Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Siang Lin took second place and received RM1,300 while Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Infant Jesus 1 won third position, taking home RM1,200.
Puan Nor Aini Binti Harun, Sekolah Kebangsaan (P) Durian Daun’s co-curriculum assistant principal was overwhelmed with joy after her school won the primary school category. “Our success exemplifies the tireless team effort by the students, teachers and school staff in carrying out the recycling initiatives throughout the campaign period. We will continue to motivate the students to seize every opportunity to make the world a better place to live in and we are ecstatic about participating in next year’s campaign,” she added.
Four special awards were presented to the schools with the highest accumulated aluminium, plastics, beverage cartons and e-waste, and the winners walked away with RM700 each. Sekolah Kebangsaan Air Molek and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Temu were the recipients of the special award for the highest collection of plastics in the primary school and secondary school categories respectively. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Temu also won the special award for the highest collection of aluminium in the secondary school category. Sekolah Kebangsaan Air Molek received the special award for the highest beverage cartons accumulated in the primary school category while Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Tuah clinched the same award in the secondary school category. Meanwhile, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Klebang Besar attained the special award for the most e-waste collected in the secondary school category.
Encik Mohd Yani Bin Ismail, Chairman of Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB); Encik Sharudin Bin Hamid, Director of SWCorp in Melaka; and Encik Sharom Bin Mohd Shariff, representative from the Melaka Tengah District Education Office were also in attendance at the event.
For the complete list of winners please refer Appendix A.