Agona Nkwanta(WR), June 24, GNA - Students of Abura District Assembly Junior High School emerged winners in a pilot collection and recycling of plastic waste for students launched in Ahanta West District.

The project launched by management of JICA on May 19, this year, was to use students to collect and recycle plastic waste on pilot basis. The students collected 195.40 kilogrammes of plastic waste and received a cash prize of 59 Ghana cedis and some items. Students of Agona District Council B JHS collected 147.50 kilogrammes to come runners-up and received 44.50 Ghana cedis.

Students of Apemanim District Assembly JHS, collected 103.60 kilogrammes to place third and received 31.50 Ghana cedis. Students from nine other schools that participated took away cash prizes in addition to football, plagues and litter bins. Miss Miyuki Sumi, Coordinator in-charge of Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteer said waste management was a major challenge to most developing countries.

She noted that the advent of sachet water had compounded the issue and continued to make the environment unsightly. Ms Sumi said the exercise should be sustained by families and the society to reverse the negative effects of plastics on the environment. The idea was proposed by Ms Fukuoks Masayo, a Community Development Worker attached to Conservation International at Ahanta West. She explained that the competition was to instil environmental cleanliness among the students.

Ms Masayo said about 2,000 school students who participated in the project were cheerful and shared their experiences with their relations. 24 June 08