Teachers, students and NREB staff pose for a group photo at the end of the workshop.
The workshop participants singing the ‘Hijau’ song.
Participants listening to NREB officers talk on the environment.
MIRI: Recycling is a common activity among the people, but they are often confined to collecting newspapers, aluminium cans and bottles, and later selling them off to vendors.
Some people do bring reusable shopping bags when they go shopping.
Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) senior assistant controller Justine Jok Jau Emang said these were good waste management efforts, but more could be done.
“For instance, we could separate our kitchen waste and turn it into compost. We could also look into creative ways to reduce the amount of drinking straws being disposed of daily.
“The straws could be used in another way, for instance, as handicraft materials or even as filling for pillows.”
This was the message delivered to ‘Kelab Pencinta Alam Sekitar’ (PALS) members during an environmental workshop at Kelab Rekreasi Petroleum, Lutong recently.
The workshop entitled ‘PALS Miri and Subis Environment Education and Awareness Workshop 2014’ was organised by NREB.
PALS is an initiative by NREB with support from the Education Department. It is aimed at enhancing environmental awareness among school children through co-curricular activities.
Justin explained that one of the main components in our daily waste bins were organic waste and these were under utilised.
Organic waste often goes into garbage bins together with other materials and once left for a longer time, starts to stink.
“If we give organic waste a second chance by separating it from the other garbage, we could turn it into fertilisers.
“In the earlier days, people dispose of organic waste on their farm because they knew these organic matters fertilise crops. In the modern days, some countries are already setting up facilities to collect organic waste to produce compost fertilisers.
“So the message is if we make an effort to segregate our waste, we could make full use of their benefits and reduce wastage of resources. We could avoid bad smell too. That is what good environmental and waste management is about.”
Justine also encouraged school managements to engage the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in environmental activities or programmes held at school promises.
He said children must be encouraged to be the agent of environmental improvement and they need strong support and understanding from parents.
Justine hoped after undergoing the workshop, the participants would be motivated to bring changes in the way environment should be treated, and feel encouraged to share their knowledge and skills with their peers and family members.
One hundred and twenty primary school children and 24 PALS club teachers from 24 schools in Miri and Subis attended the workshop.
During the workshop, NREB officers shared information on solid waste management through video and oral presentations.
Students and teachers also participated in hands-on activities to strengthen their understanding on the subject.
For more details, contact the nearest NREB offices.