School Waste Collection

Green Soldier begins with school-based waste collection, because recyclable materials can only be reused or processed if they are separated before becoming mixed waste. Globally, municipal solid waste continues to rise, with the United Nations Environment Programme estimating that waste generation could increase from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050 if waste systems do not improve (UNEP, 2024). At the school level, Green Soldier responds to this issue by creating collection points where students can submit recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, bottle caps, and scrap metal. Through this activity, waste collection becomes more than a one-time clean-up event. Each student submission contributes to the school’s recorded environmental progress, helping recycling become measurable, organized, and easier to maintain. This also supports the goals of responsible consumption and sustainable communities, as waste reduction and recycling are central parts of improving urban and community waste management (United Nations, 2015)