Lautoka City Council proudly hosted the Clean School Programme Awards Day today at the RSL Hall, Lautoka, celebrating the outstanding efforts of schools in promoting sustainable waste management and environmental awareness. The event highlighted the success of the Clean School Programme, an initiative aimed at introducing the 3R-centric system (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to schools in Lautoka.
Objectives of the Clean School Programme:
- Enable schools to establish proper waste management systems.
- Reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
- Maximize practical benefits from products while generating minimal waste.
- Raise awareness among children on waste minimization at schools, homes, and communities.
This program targets students to foster personal growth, critical thinking, informed decision-making, and their role as responsible citizens. The initiative was monitored under three key components:
- Environmental Awareness Raising – Encouraging schools to actively practice 3R principles.
- School Composting – Teaching natural processes to convert organic materials into compost (natural fertilizer).
- Waste Separation & Recycling – Promoting the segregation of waste for recycling.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Shalend Singh, Head of Services, emphasized the importance of waste management, citing alarming statistics:
- Waste generation at the Vunato landfill is estimated at 91.7 tons per day.
- A study in 2022 revealed a household waste generation rate of 326 grams per person per day, compared to 880 grams per person per day in 2009.
Mr. Singh applauded the schools’ efforts in contributing to sustainability, stating that the Clean School Programme not only reduces waste but also encourages environmentally responsible practices, nurturing a culture of sustainability among students.
Award Winners:
The highlight of the event was the recognition of schools that excelled in the program:
- Overall Winner (Rural): Raviravi Sangam Primary School
- Overall Runner-Up (Rural): Lovu Sangam Primary School
- Overall Winner (Urban): Lautoka Arya Samaj Primary School
- Overall Runner-Up (Urban): Lautoka Zhong Hua School
The Lautoka City Council commends all participating schools for their commitment to creating a cleaner, greener future. By instilling sustainable practices in students today, we are paving the way for a better tomorrow.
The Council encourages more schools to join the Clean School Programme and become active participants in protecting our environment for future generations.
Together, let’s build a cleaner, greener Lautoka!
