SIBU: In a display of environmental consciousness, students from the Sibu and Sarikei zones have collectively gathered 80,800 kg of recyclable materials in six months through the School-Level Recycling Competition 2023.
According to Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), the competition, which ran from July 1 to Dec 30 in 2023, saw the participation of 32 secondary and primary schools, making up a total of 16,671 students.
These educational institutions fall under the jurisdictions of the Sibu Municipal Council, Sibu Rural District Council, Sarikei District Council, and Meradong and Julau District Council.
The state's Public Health and Housing deputy minister Michael Tiang Ming Tee commended the students and schools for their significant contribution to the recycling effort.
"This spirit is what we wish to instil in our young generation – the practice of 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, starting within the school environment," he was quoted as saying while officiating the prize presentation ceremony of the School-Level Recycling Competition for the Sibu and Sarikei zones at the Sarawak Islamic Complex.
The initiative aims to increase school students' knowledge of the importance of recycling and to foster a recycling culture among them and the broader community, aligning with the government's call to enhance public awareness of the importance of recycling.
SMK Tong Hua emerged as the champion in the Secondary School category, followed by SMK Methodist and SMK Tiong Hin. In the Primary School category, SJKC Ming Tak took first place, followed by runners-up SJKC Chung Hien and SJKC Hang Kwong.
Cash prizes were awarded, with the champion receiving RM1,000, the first runner-up RM800, and subsequent places receiving RM600 to RM300.