The Green Xchange project, to be held twice a year, targeted residents of the Kampong Ayer in a bid “to help clean up Kampung Ayer” from pollution whilst educating the villagers of the value of recyclable materials, according to the SCOT president, Anwar Hj Mohammad.
“These materials are not worthless. They have some value whereby they can be exchanged for rice (through this project),” said Anwar.
Whilst instilling the value of recycling among the villagers of Kampung Sungai Kebun, Kampung Peramuand villages nearby, the project also aimed to help families with low income.
“For example, when a village resident submits ‘recyclables’ worth $1, the SCOT team will exchange them for one and a half kilogramme of fragrant rice,” explained the chairman for the second GreenXchange project Ak Md Fakhrul Azmi PHM Yassin.
He said that the first Green Xchange project conducted in Kampung Bolkiah ‘A’ and ‘B’ last year, received positive response from residents who “hoped that (SCOT) can return in the near future to hold this project again”.
He said initially they hoped to collect at least 100kg of recyclables during the first Green XchangeProject, but they ended up collecting no less than 1,000kg of recyclables.
“Because of this (encouraging) response, we aim to reach at least 300kg of recyclables for the second Green Xchange,” he said.
“To reach this aim, we, the SCOT team, have carried out a campaign to inform the residents ofKampung Sungai Kebun, Kampung Peramu and the villages nearby (about the second Green Xchangeproject).”
“The awareness campaign was carried out in two sessions, with the first held on November 27, 2011 and the second session on December 25, 2011,” he said.
Yesterday’s campaign was proven effective, resulting in over 5,700 kilogrammes of recyclables being collected.
Present as the guest of honour at yesterday’s event was Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Also present was the ministry’s permanent secretary Hj Mohd Rozan Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunos, UBDVice-Chancellor Dato Paduka Dr Hj Zulkarnain Hj Hanafi and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Corporate) Hjh Anis Faudzulani Hj Dzulkiflee.
The Green Xchange project was inspired by the community recycling approach adopted by AvelifeFoundation of Singapore to inculcate a recycling habit among Singapore citizens.
Source: The Brunei Times, http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2012/01/09/scot-collects-over-5-000kg-recyclables
Author: Diyana Ibrahim
Published Date: 9 January 2012
