Seventy-two students from 24 primary schools participated in the Solid Waste Management Company Limited’s Trash to Art Competition, transforming recyclable materials into creative works that highlighted the importance of waste reduction and environmental responsibility.
The competition challenged students to design and create original pieces using recyclable materials, with Libertville TML Primary School emerging as the winner.
At Thursday’s Awards Ceremony, SWMCOL’s Chief Executive Officer Ria Ramdeen said the initiative encourages students to think critically about the impact of everyday waste and the importance of responsible waste management.
“This competition serves as a reminder that waste is not merely something to be discarded. With imagination and vision, it can be repurposed into something of value. The artwork showcase, which we do have some present here today, challenges us to think differently about consumption, recycling and environmental stewardship. They inspire us to become more conscious of our impact on the environment and our role in building a more sustainable future.”
Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Clyde Elder, said the competition aligns with the government’s environmental goals by encouraging sustainable behaviour.
“The competition also supports the broader objectives of the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago by promoting environmental awareness, encouraging sustainable behaviours, and empowering young people to become active participants in building cleaner, healthier, and more resilient communities. Through initiatives such as Trash to Art, SWMCOL continues to advance the national agenda for environmental sustainability while inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.”
The Minister added that the competition gave students the opportunity to explore key environmental concepts while demonstrating that discarded materials can be transformed into practical and meaningful creations.
“Participants demonstrated that materials often considered waste can be transformed into useful, decorative, and meaningful creations through imagination and collaboration. The initiative also provided an opportunity for students to explore important environmental concepts, including waste reduction, reuse and recycling, resource conservation, sustainable thinking, environmental responsibility, and community participation.”
The awards ceremony recognised the outstanding creativity and environmental awareness displayed by participating students, while celebrating the efforts of schools, teachers, and parents in helping nurture the next generation of environmental stewards.