Youths bag environmental award for green ideas

Malini Nathan, Straits Times 22 Oct 09;

HE WATCHED his secondary school teacher fill up a large bin with plastic bottles to show how much was being wasted, and wondered if he could also raise awareness about wastage of electronic items.

Lim Jing Kai, 17, from Republic Polytechnic (RP), said: 'Many people use electronic items and throw them away with no regard for what happens to them after that and how it affects the environment.'

It was this concern that prompted him to create greater awareness among the public about electronic waste.

Jing Kai will set up a waste collection point for unwanted electronic items at a flea market to be held at RP on Saturday. He is in talks with a few multinational companies to help recycle these items.

Fellow RP students Rachel Kek, 19, and Lester Tan, 20, are using the same event, organised by members of RP's Conservation Interest Group (CIG), to spread their own environmental messages.

Mr Tan is setting up booths for several games he developed based on environmental issues. He hopes to have the games made available to secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

Ms Kek is using more than 500 items donated in a charity drive organised by RP's CIG to drive home the message that unwanted items can benefit the needy.

Third-year Singapore Polytechnic student Sharilyn Lim, 18, is also doing her bit. She implemented a recycling campaign in two secondary schools this year.

These ideas won the four green enthusiasts the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Award presented at the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday. They were among 50 participants, double last year's number, who took part in the global education initiative for youth, organised by Bayer South-east Asia and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Supported by the National Youth Achievement Award Council and National Environment Agency, the competition is in its ninth year and is awarded to tertiary students, aged 17 to 24, who develop unique environment-themed projects.

Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment and Water Resources), was the guest of honour at the award ceremony. She said: 'This competition is an excellent opportunity for youths to gain a greater understanding of environmental issues facing us. We hope this award will inspire and motivate other companies in Singapore to encourage others to spread the environmental message.'

The four winners will head to Bayer's headquarters in Germany next month, where they will represent Singapore and join green ambassadors from 18 countries to learn about environmental practices and sustainability issues.