Riara Schools strategy to reduce plastic pollution as they cash from it

By Vincent Munga.

Riara Primary school has joined the world in commemorating the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day with song and dance that carried heavy messages of environment conservation.

The institution was ahead of this years theme that focused on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. They spared the time to award learners who had emerged top plastic collectors.

For two years now, the school has been running a pollution control programme for plastics where they encourage learners to collect plastics from home and earn points that culminates to awards.

Parents teachers association (PTA) Environment Committee Chairman, Anthony Mayio says the School has so far collected at least 552 kilogrames from it’s three campuses that lies along Ngong road.

“We have partnered with a plastic recycling company- Mr. Green Africa which awards our school points. We are in agreement that 1kg=15 points which is equivalent to Sh15,” he says.

At the end of the year, the school will cash the points and the money will be used to fund a children’s home or a needy institute.

Mr. Mayio says the exercise will give them at least Sh50,000 which will come from almost two tonnes of collected plastics.

“Their efforts of cleaning the environment is tied on a charitable cause as the same pupils are the ones who use the funds to assist a children’s home or fund a needy institute every year,” he said.

Mr. Green Africa strategic projects development field officer, Martin Murimi says they decided to partner with the school in the project they have christened “consumer ecosystem model” to train the kids on the importance of keeping the environment clean.

“In this model, we reach consumers directly to get the plastics and I believe in this way, we get high quality plastics and also we save the amount of energy, water and chemicals used when we get the same from dumping sites,” he said.

Riara Primary school headteacher, Naomi Mbugua said every adult must identify what pollutes the environment and see how good they can help in conserving nature.