New Central High came out on top of an upcycling competition to transform discarded non-reusable glass bottles into functional art pieces.
Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), in collaboration with artists, NIIX (Nigel Butler) and Salvou Art (Mariah Lawrence) concluded its commemoration of International Youth Day with its Glass-It-Up Upcycling Competition under the theme Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable Future.
PFG in a press release said that the competition targeted youths aged 11-13 and 45 participants were merged into 15 teams, each embarking on a mission to transform discarded non-reusable glass bottles from public spaces into vibrant, functional art.
The release said that a total of 1,612 non-recyclable bottles were salvaged and the Marriott Hotel beach and South Ruimveldt emerged as prime collection sites with bottles collected bearing popular trademark logos including, Stag, Rude Boy, Corona, Heineken, and Smirnoff Ice from ANSA McAl, and Diamond water from Demerara Distillers Limited.
According to PFG, the competition commenced on May 22nd and was aligned with their ongoing 1.5 Degree Lifestyle Campaign. Participating institutions included Lusignan Good Hope Learning Centre (LGHLC), Smith’s Memorial Primary School, Mocha Primary School, New Central High School, and Live Learners Edutainment Elite. Participants were guided by the principles of sustainability and breathed new life into these discarded bottles by crafting vases, art pieces, and jewelry.
Policy Forum Guyana said its youth arm also meticulously catalogued the collected bottles, unveiling trends.
PFG said that the success of the competition marks a step towards cultivating eco-consciousness among Guyana’s youth, government bodies, and businesses alike. Moreover, local businesses, including wine (La Tour Artisan Wine) and seasoning companies, benefited from repurposed bottles, fostering a circular economy. PFG issued a call for corporations to adopt recycling measures and event organisers to champion post-event cleanups to safeguard the environment. The role of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency and the Mayor and City Council in enforcing waste management laws cannot be overstated, the PFG statement read.
The declared winners of the Glass-It-Up Upcycling Competition were:
1st Place: New Central High – 1028 Bottles
2nd Place: South Ruimveldt Team – 135 Bottles
3rd Place: Lusignan Good Hope Learning Centre – 79 Bottles
PFG said that winners will receive electronic tablets, valuable gift certificates, the book Rupununi: Rediscovering the Lost World, back-to-school hampers, and all participants will be given certificates of participation.
The competition was made possible by sponsors Atlantic Marine Supplies, Sherwin Williams, Mings Products & Services Ltd, Bounty Supermarket, The Gift Centre, Jars Zero Waste, Darthan Investments, Health Depot Pharmacy, World Wildlife Fund – Guyana Office and Teleperformance. The competition closed on August 12, 2023 in the National Library’s Conference Room.
