From the Eco Warriors 30.09.2023

This week the Eco Committee had their first meeting of the year. We had nine students across primary and secondary leading discussions with adult representatives from the teacher community, parent community, NGOs and even ColourMeals.

One important issue discussed in this meeting was the phasing out of single-use packaging. Rather than adding a price for each takeaway container as planned, the committee along with ColourMeals came to the agreement that the canteen will no longer provide the 100+ cardboard containers daily. Instead, everyone must bring in their own container or borrow a container from the canteen for a RM5 deposit (to be returned if the container is brought back).

We will be asking for donations of reusable lunch boxes or smaller containers so that we have a reserve of these in the canteen.

From Monday 2nd October, there will be a box at the guard house for you to leave these donations in so over this weekend, please do look into the back of your kitchen cupboards and see if you have any to donate!

ECO UPDATE

First, the bad news…

But then, the great news…

From wet markets to Hawker stalls to supermarkets … throughout Sabah the use of plastic bags is ubiquitous and even if you buy just one small item then you will still be asked

“You want plastic?”

Unfortunately we then see an awful lot of these plastic bags thrown away at the side of the road and also into our incredible oceans causing great harm to both the planet and our wildlife.

At KIS we are taught to protect our planet; we are a single use plastic free school as well as being accredited with the Green Flag Award.

Thankfully Malaysia has now committed to ban the retail use of plastic bags across all business sectors by 2025.

Ruth Yapp from Zero Waste Sabah has launched a pilot project in Tuaran which is the hometown of our current Chief Minister. If it is successful then Ruth’s dream is that it will be replicated throughout Sabah and beyond!

The project is being sponsored by Yayasan Hasanah and Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance. Instead of using plastic bags you are encouraged to purchase or bring your own bucket or reusable bag.

Ruth and her team have created a number of videos to explain the concept:

Ruth is also trying to encourage the shoppers to bring their own bags by using a reward card system.

“You collect a stamp each time you use your own bags. 30 stamps on your card and you get to exchange the card for any of the bags on display.”

We really hope that this fantastic project is implemented throughout Malaysia as soon as possible!

Tiggi Mornington Sanford

September 29, 2023 | Eco Warriors . KIS STORIES |

From the Eco Warriors 30.09.2023