Bring your own

Written by Quratul-Ain Bandial Wednesday, 14 April 2010 07:54


Bandar Seri Begawan - To encourage recycling and use of reusable materials, the students of Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (Maktab Sains) have raised over $300 to buy more recycling bins to place in every classroom in the school.

Over four days, the college's Environmental Club, Project V Club, Entrepreneurial Club and Energy Club set up booths selling food, among other items, to raise money for the bins.
"With more recycling bins around the college, it will be easier for teachers and students to dispose of recyclable materials as it will be easier to access (and use) these bins," said Acting Principal Dk Sarimah Pg Hj Ahmad yesterday at the close of a four-day event to increase environmental responsibility among students and teachers.

The initiative is part of the college's "Bring Your Own" campaign, which promotes the use of reusable bags, containers, plates, cups and other eating utensils to reduce plastic waste.
The school has branded every other Thursday "Bring Your Own" day, when the school canteen will not supply plastic containers and cutlery to students between 11.30am and 2pm, to encourage them to bring reusable items from home.

For those who forget, members of the Environment Club run a booth renting plates, bowls, cups and cutlery to students at 10 cents per set.

Rodziah Hj Abdul Wahab, the head teacher of the Environmental Club, said Maktab Sains is one of the first educational institutions in Brunei to take up this strategy.
"Next semester, we plan to have 'Bring Your Own' day twice a week, and hopefully the canteen will start charging people who opt for plastic containers," she said.
Acting Principal Dk Sarimah said that the green message had been "well received" by teachers and students and, by her observation, a great number have started to bring their own reusable containers.
"I urge the Maktab Sains community to take small steps at a time...
"Let's reduce the amount of trash within the college compound, let's beautify our college, and above all, let us be more responsible towards our own environment."

-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times