BY JOHN CHRISMA
YOUNG students of Woodford International School have come up with a innovative idea to create rubbish bins made out of empty mineral water plastic containers..
Just recently, on 14 April, Woodford International School organized the annual S.T.E.A.M (Science Technology Engineering Art and Maths) Exhibition day which focused on students’ innovative designs and self-created ideological projects based on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.
This year, a team comprised of the Woodford International School level 7 students focused on creating a waste management project that aims to reduce plastic mineral water bottle wastes.
The students told the environment media that the idea of artfully designing and creating rubbish bins made out of empty mineral water plastic containers was to help the school in managing their secondary used waste, especially plastic mineral water containers.
“By looking at today’s environment, it’s also an eyesore to spot empty mineral water plastic containers in drainage, waterways, beaches, and on streets in Honiara,” the students said.
The disposing of empty mineral water bottles in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara is becoming the worst problem of plastic pollution.
Solomon Islanders, and more especially Honiara residents buy water bottles every day. For every bottle people buy, only a few are recycled, most are littered on the soil and water along the way. That leads to a big problem given the fact that water bottles do not biodegrade.
Level 7 student, Donna YU, who also instrumental in the project said the project allowed them (students) almost two weeks of preparation before the S.T.E.A.M Exhibition day.
“We were trying to help out with our ideas in reducing plastic containers that polluted our surrounding environment.
“The plan was to uphold the 3Rs, which is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” she said.
The team explained that they used empty mineral water containers for bins by wrapping around about seven to fourteen empty containers with a tape
“We used the bottom based with plywood to enclose the bottom of the bin, later we attach the first, second and third layer of the wrapped empty containers with a tape.
“Later we decorated it with colourful paints, so it can be more attractive.
“That their project was very fantastic since it not heavy to it from place to place.
“The team thought it was a big problem that needed to be addressed,” she added.
She challenged other schools in the Solomon Islands to cut down on disposables plastic containers, plastic bags, and other items or try to be innovative themselves and create artful ideas from plastic wastes to uphold the 3Rs, “Reduce Reuse and Recycle”.