Plastics are practically everywhere: plastic bottles, plastic straws, plastic cups. The convenient use of plastic and has made it become very popular in our daily lives. Mr Johnny Chandrina, Tzu Chi volunteer who is actively involved in taking care of Tzu Chi Recycling Depot in West Jakarta, presented videos and images of plastic and waste problems and share solution to live a
‘greener’ lifestyle to Tzu Chi School Grade 9 students on 20 November 2019. The sharing session was hoped to increase students’ awareness to protect the environment.

“When I saw the video, I felt very heartbroken. I feel like I don’t use that many plastic but even if I use only one per day, when 7 billion people do the same, there will be 7 billion plastic per day, and there will be so many in a year,” said Winnetou Tchiq, 9 Grateful student.

Mr Chandrina encouraged students to reduce waste, and to at least start small. “I believe everyone bring their own drinking bottle, that’s a good start. Since one of our biggest plastic waste are from using bottled water,” he said.

In light of this issue, it was our Grade 9 students’ turn to experience hands-on activity of sorting plastic and paper waste at Tzu Chi Recycling Depot, to assist recycling efforts as part of their IB Service as Action.

“By coming to this depot, we now understand and appreciate what our volunteers have done,” said Pricella Limberta, a 9 Respect student. Pricella also added that, it seems simple yet sorting out waste in categories when it came in bulk was not an easy job. “It made me realise how difficult it is to sort your waste, I hope everyone can learn how to do it at home,” Pricella added.

For Pricella, despite having continuous education on environmental conservation, the images and footage of how our earth now filled with trash was hurtful to watch, “I hear about protecting the environment, we get education on conserving them, but these images and videos were so striking, it was a bold reminder for us to reduce our waste so that our lives won’t become those pictures,” she continued.

Both Winnetou and Pricella agreed that we can start saving the earth by doing small things like using reusable bags when going shopping. Winnetou also encourage us to reduce electronic waste (e-waste). One of the biggest environmental damage caused by toxic chemicals released into the air when e-waste is warmed up. “I’ve been trying to reduce my e-waste and use natural
sunlight whenever I can.”

The service activity at the recycling depot was really appreciated by the teachers. One of the teachers who accompanied the students that day, Ms Bernadine Elizaga, Grade 9 year leader said, “I can see the students enjoy this, it was a good experience for students to actually know what to do with plastic bottles and paper when you want to recycle.”

“This is not just a requirement for the MYP, but recycling is a responsibility for them to have since we have such a privileged life,” she added. What Ms Elizaga meant by privileged was, in life we are lucky enough to be able to do what we want and spend what we want, so when our lifestyle create trash or rubbish, we need to be responsible for it, “For example, some students now realised that when they consumed bottled water, they need to finish them properly so that it will make it easier for the people who do the recycling.”