Separating garbage has joined reading, writing and arithmetic on the syllabus at Sattahip District’s Navy School where students are manning a “recycling bank” to raise funds for the school, as well as raise environmental awareness.
Khet Udomsak Mayor Pairoj Malakul Na Ayuthaya announced the launch of the recycling effort July 19 with Principal Suphanee klang-ngern about 100 government workers and students.
Teachers, local officials and students ready themselves for the new recycling project.
Faced with a worsening trash problem, the city is teaching students a whole new set of R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. Garbage is being delivered to the school from homes and businesses and students separate glass, plastic and other recyclables.
The Khet Udomsak Recycling Center then hauls away the reusable materials and pays the school. Funds will be used for upkeep and renovation.
Suphanee told the kids that only 36 percent of the waste disposed locally is done properly. Too many spots in Sattahip, she said, have turned into open illegal dumps. Reducing trash totals, reusing the reusable and recycling the rest is the best strategy, she said.
