BRUNEI-MUARA

AROUND 150 volunteers joined the sixth Green Xchange Project organised by the Society for Community Outreach and Training (SCOT) at Kg Batu Marang. Volunteers collected recyclables weighing 4155.98kg to be exchanged for bags of rice for residents.

Attending as guest of honour was Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman.

In her opening speech the deputy minister noted that in the past four years SCOT has collected over 26,000 kg of recyclables which has been exchanged for 7,000 kg of rice.

“26,000 kilogrammes of recyclable goods such as empty cans, metals, paper, old books and plastic bottles... It’s clear this is not an easy job to obtain this amount,” siad the deputy minister.

She noted that SCOT been able to take the first step to change the attitude and mindset towards environmental conservation in the country.

The guest of honour said that the project could be extended to other districts. She added that the efforts from the volunteers could spur other youths to contribute to their country and bring about positive change.

Recyclables such as books, tin containers, newspapers, plastic bottles and electronics were processed by two companies.

Sallimah Recycling Works collected metal and aluminum, while Kawan Bumi took in recycled paper and bottle plastics.

Volunteers came from higher education institutions such as Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Institut Teknologi Brunei and Politeknik Brunei, and the private sector.

The upcoming Green Xchange project will mark the NGO’s first project as an official non-governmental organisation approved by the Registrar of Society Brunei Darussalam.

SCOT started its Green Xchange programme in 2011 at Kampung Bolkiah A and B. It was founded in 2011, initiated by founder Anwar Mohammad after previously conducting studies on poverty in the country.

The Brunei Times