The EkoSkola Committee of Gozo College, Victoria yesterday was presented with an award in the YRE-Wrigley Litterless campaign, by the Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change Leo Brincat.

In the section for Articles 11-14 years, the EkoSkola Committee. Gozo College, Victoria was placed 1st nationally and 3rd place Internationally with their entry ‘The Whole Town’s on Board – Are You?’

The YRE (Young Reporters for the Environment) Programme is another Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme supported by Nature Trust (Malta), whereby students explore environmental and sustainable development issues through cross-curricular projects. Secondary, post-secondary and university students carry out journalistic investigations about an environmental issue and then report it to the local community via their preferred media.

EkoSkola Committee of Gozo College, Victoria said that it was “fed up of seeing plastic and paper in the streets around the school when it should be recycled. Also, a lot of people still throw plastic bottles, paper, tins and glass in the rubbish bag. Mission: Clean the streets off litter and encourage recycling at the same time. A recycling competition at school was the answer!”

Emails were sent to all parents, with all students asked to bring any paper and plastic that was going to be thrown away, to school. Word spread around quickly and even some local radio stations talked about the recycling campaign. A note was also put on the weekly news bulettin published by the parish churches.

The reply was huge. Daily, the school entrance ended up piled high with plastic bags and carton boxes full of material to be recycled. Unfortunately, very soon, it was found that a lot of people did not know what material is good for recycling.

The EkoSkola Committee had a hard time and nearly gave up, spending all their free time at school separating the recyclable material from rubbish with the help of teachers, minor staff, the Assistant Heads and Head of School.

Everyone also helped to fill the recycle truck whenever it came to take away all the material brought by students, parents and others who heard about the initiative.

A truck owner offered to go and pick up recyclable material from people who couldn’t bring the material to school.

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