BASSETERRE — Fifty-five schools across St. Kitts and Nevis gathered an impressive 18,872.76 pounds of recyclable waste during a two-month national competition, demonstrating what Minister of Sustainable Development Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke called “tremendous proof that environmental stewardship and recycling has no age or designation.”
The National Recycling Competition, held under the theme “Turning Waste into Value, Building a Greener Future Together,” saw participation from 38 schools in St. Kitts and 17 in Nevis across early childhood, primary, and secondary levels. Winners were recognized at Monday’s award ceremony, with 23 schools receiving honors.
Violet O. Jeffers Nicholls Primary School in Nevis dominated the competition, winning both the highest total recyclables with 2,161.07 pounds and the highest average per student at 36.02 pounds. In St. Kitts, Ross Preparatory School topped the average category with 9.69 pounds per student, while Washington Archibald High School led secondary schools with 1,516.60 pounds collected.
Dr. Clarke praised the initiative for teaching students “valuable lessons on partnership, healthy competition and their role in ensuring our Federation’s environmental wellbeing” while supporting the SISA Pillar 6 Circular Economy goals.
Mr. Hsien-Yu Chung from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) encouraged participants to continue their environmental advocacy, telling students, “Your efforts truly matter. All of you are recycling ambassadors and environmental heroes.”
The competition represents a collaborative effort between multiple government ministries, the Solid Waste Management Corporation, and Taiwan’s technical mission.