SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 tackles plastic waste

SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 recently completed the Trash Right program, an initiative driven by Mondelēz International in collaboration with Lotus’s, PINTAR Foundation, and Trash4Cash.

The primary goal of this program was to instill lifelong recycling habits among children while promoting responsible waste disposal within the community.

SK Bandar Utama 4 embarks on recycling mission

Over the course of three months, 910 students from SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 actively participated in the Trash Right program, successfully collecting an impressive 1.33 metric tons of plastic waste.

This surpassed the initial target of 1 metric ton. Alongside the collection drive, Mondelēz International and Trash4Cash conducted workshops to educate students, teachers, and parents on effective waste segregation practices.

Headmaster of SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4, Yahya Abdul Karim, expressed pride in the students’ response in participating in the program.

He stated, “We’re incredibly proud of their genuine response in embracing recycling and environmental responsibility, especially after learning that their concerted efforts can make a real impact on society.”

Progress tracking motivates young recyclers

To motivate students, SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 introduced a progress tracking leaderboard.

Mondelēz International incentivized top achievers, emphasizing their commitment to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Raja Zalina Raja Safran, Head of Corporate and Government Affairs for Malaysia and Singapore at Mondelēz International, highlighted the company’s mission: “…to ensure that our snacks and everything we do is not only right for people but also right for the planet.”

Dedicated Mondelēz International employees volunteered bi-weekly throughout the plastic waste collection process, fostering meaningful interactions beyond collecting recyclables.

The hands-on involvement aimed to instill a shared responsibility for creating a circular economy for plastics.

The Trash Right program is part of Mondelēz International’s social impact project in Southeast Asia, addressing challenging multi-layer plastic waste.

The appropriately managed plastic waste collected by the school will be transformed by Trash4Cash into reusable eco-boards for various applications and furnishings.

To conclude the collaboration, Mondelēz International plans to install a permanent recycling bin made from recycled plastics within the school compound.

The specifics of the plan and the implementation timeline will be finalized collaboratively when the 2024 school term begins. This initiative reflects the commitment to creating a lasting impact on recycling habits and environmental responsibility among the younger generation.