KUCHING: The School Recycling Campaign in Kuching and Kota Samarahan organised by Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&NHB) has collected 219,082.12kg of recyclables, which is more than 10 times the amount collected in the same campaign back in 2017.

Held from March 1 to Aug 30, the six-month campaign involved 50,000 students from 57 primary and secondary schools, under the jurisdiction of the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), the Kuching South City Council (MBKS), the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) and the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP).

The overall amount of recyclables collected were contributed by MBKS with a total collection of 117,686.88kg followed by DBKU (68,080.69kg), MPP (21,633.55kg) and MPKS (11,681.00kg).

The campaign saw participation of 28 primary and 29 secondary schools challenging each other to collect the highest amount of recyclables per student such as aluminium, plastics, paper, beverage cartons and e-waste to win cash prizes totalling RM20,200.

Chung Hua Middle School No. 1 under MBKS topped the secondary school category and took home RM1,400 after amassing 32.57kg of recyclables per student. In second place was SMK Tun Ahmad Zaidi under DBKU with a total collection of 7.87kg per student, walking away with RM1,300.

Meanwhile, SMK Pesantren Abdul Taib Mahmud under MPKS placed third with 7.79kg and took home RM1,200.

For primary school category, SJKC Chung Hua No. 3 under MBKS was crowned the champion after accumulating 27.33kg of recyclables per student, picking up RM1,400.

SJKC Chung Hua Pangkalan Baru under MPP finished second with 25.79kg and pocketed RM1,300 while SJKC Chung Hua No. 1 under DBKU took the third spot after collecting 20.93kg, winning RM1,200.

Additionally, four special awards were rewarded to the schools for the most aluminium, plastics, beverage cartons and e-waste accumulated.

The winners for the most aluminium, plastics and beverage cartons bagged RM700 each while most e-waste items winner was presented with RM500.

For the highest collection of aluminium, SJKC Chung Hua No. 3 under MBKS won the special award for the primary school category after accumulating 731.5kg while Chung Hua Middle School No. 1 under MBKS was victorious in the secondary school category after collecting 1,130.0kg.

For the largest amount of plastic materials, SJKC Chung Hua No. 3 under MBKS won the primary school category for its collection of 17,367.0kg while SMK St Thomas under DBKU topped the secondary school category for its total collection of 897.0kg.

SJKC Chung Hua No. 5 of MBKS scored a double triumph as it picked up two special awards for the highest amount of beverage cartons and e-waste collected, after amassing 139.0kg of beverage cartons and 2,370.0kg of e-waste.

Meanwhile, SMK Tun Ahmad Zaidi under DBKU won the special award for the largest amount of beverage cartons collected in the secondary school category after amassing 131.7kg, followed by SMK St Joseph under DBKU for the largest collection of e-waste after accumulating 1,367.6kg.

Sarawak Local Government and Housing Ministry permanent secretary Bakrie Zaini officiated the closing ceremony as well as gave away the prizes to the winners at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, yesterday.

Also present were F&NHB manager of corporate affairs Cariessa Goh Geak Hwa, Sarawak Education Department assistant director (student affairs) Abang Jamali Abang Tar, Natural Resources and Environment Board environmental control officer Jenefer Lu Yann Rong, Tetra Pak (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd environment manager Terrynz Tan, DBKU public health division head Henable Henry Nessan and MBKS public health division head Tay Guan Huat.

Bakrie and other guests with participants at the closing ceremony of the School Recycling Campaign at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, yesterday.