8th grade students successfully research a model for waste classification and treatment.

Realizing that the source of solid waste generated in schools is very large, with the desire to change awareness about waste collection and treatment behavior, contributing to environmental protection, Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu researched the project: Studying awareness and behavior about waste issues, building a model for collecting, classifying and treating waste in schools to recover useful components in waste that can be used to process into new products in physical form and reduce the amount of waste released into the environment.

With the help of students, teachers, staff and workers of the waste treatment plant, Quynh Nhi started to research and collect information on waste composition in schools and survey students' understanding of waste as well as environmental protection awareness to realize her idea.

“Currently, waste is a big issue that everyone is concerned about. Many people still cannot distinguish between different types of waste, wasting this resource, so I researched and built a waste classification model,” said Quynh Nhi.

Quynh Nhi's topic was highly appreciated by teachers and friends at the contest.

To raise awareness and knowledge for students, Quynh Nhi has designed a variety of propaganda forms, using documents, pictures, and photos combined with dissemination during extracurricular hours, and asking teachers to integrate them into lessons to achieve the highest efficiency.

The propaganda content mainly revolves around the concept of waste, collection diagram, the harmful effects of waste on the environment; what is waste classification at source, how to classify waste, benefits and how to treat waste after classification, multiple choice...

After the propaganda, 100% of students were aware that waste is not something to be thrown away completely, it can be reused and recycled. Thanks to that, the rate of students knowing the harmful effects of waste if not collected and treated properly has increased.

Quynh Nhi guides lower grade students to identify types of trash. Photo by Minh Thai

Phan Dinh Linh Chi, a 9th grade student at Nghia Dan Town Secondary School, said: "When participating in the waste classification work, I have more understanding about environmental protection, building a clean and healthy living environment, helping me gain more skills to organize and assign tasks to my friends to collect waste in the most effective way."

From her own ideas, with the guidance of her teachers, Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhi successfully researched the topic, helping students in the school gradually change their awareness and behavior about waste collection and treatment.

Currently, in the school yard, each classroom has trash bins for sorting garbage and the garbage after sorting is processed properly. Each trash bin is labeled differently, in which the first bin contains non-degradable trash such as plastic bags, candy wrappers, styrofoam boxes, etc., which are not biodegradable, and are taken away by the environmental company for processing. The second bin contains economical waste such as scrap paper, broken plastic items, etc., which can be sold for the purpose of raising funds for the Team. The third bin contains organic waste, which is waste that can be self-decomposed such as fruits, leaves, etc., to be recycled into bio-fertilizers and will be collected in a pit behind the school.

Mr. Vo Minh Thanh - Quynh Nhi's instructor added: "When Nhi presented the idea, I saw that this topic was suitable for the student's ability as well as being able to apply the subjects in practice, so I wholeheartedly guided and helped her complete this topic."

The trash bins are labeled differently, helping students classify trash. Photo: Minh Thai

Commenting on Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhi's project, Ms. Que Thi Oanh - Principal of Nghia Dan Town Secondary School affirmed: "The success of the project has helped the school create awareness among students, as well as create habits in collecting and treating waste. In addition to protecting the environment, from this model, students can save money from recycled waste."

It can be said that the topic "Researching awareness and behavior on waste issues, building a model for collecting, classifying and treating waste" by Nguyen Quynh Nhi has achieved significant success, thereby educating students about waste classification at school. More specifically, educating students about environmental protection; raising awareness of responsibility in building a clean living environment./.