By Admin. Updated 5:30 p.m., Thursday, April 24, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The St. Vincent Grammar School (SVGS) and the Barrouallie Government School have each won their respective categories in the Loop Recycling Competition.
The competition, which involved 50 schools nationwide recycling plastic bottles from Earth Day 2024 to Earth Day 2025, was organized by All Islands Recycling Inc.
The winners were announced ans prizes handed out on April 22, 2025, which is recognized as Earth Day.
In the secondary school category, St. Vincent Grammar School outperformed all other schools, raising $2,280 during the competition period. As the winner, the school received a 30 percent bonus on their earnings, amounting to $685.
North Union Secondary School placed second, while St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua secured third place.
In the primary school category, Barrouallie Government School emerged as the winner. They earned $1,221 from recycling efforts and received a 30 percent bonus of $366.
Sugar Mill Academy finished in second place, with St. Mary’s Roman Catholic coming in third.
The competition will continue through this year until Earth Day 2026.
Loop-branded recycling receptacles were placed at participating schools, where students encouraged one another to dispose of plastic bottles properly. Once filled, the receptacles were bagged and collected by the All Islands Recycling team. Schools are paid $15 per bag collected.
The Loop program is an environmental, educational, and recycling initiative aimed at engaging primary and secondary school students by collaborating with communities throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“The program aims to encourage students, faculty, and community members to collect plastic bottles and cans instead of co-mingling them with regular waste. By doing so, schools can make a significant impact on environmental conservation while earning income for the school. The initiative will also focus on helping participants to be more self-reliant and independent, thereby creating young entrepreneurs,” the company said.
All Islands Recycling Inc. said: “The Loop involves three key players by way of the youths. These are the schools, homes, and communities. Recyclables are collected and placed in receptacles at schools where they are then brought to us for recycling. The schools are then paid based on the quantity and kilograms of plastics collected. Of course, this does not limit anyone from being their own entrepreneur and recycling outside of this school program. After all, this is what we are encouraging. Our aim is to strengthen our recycling culture through the youths.”
Our objectives are geared toward awareness, collaboration, incentivization, and brand recognition. We hope to promote awareness among students to reduce, reuse & recycle and teach them the responsibility of cleanliness to the environment. This awareness never grows old as our generations become smarter. A little reminder is important. Also, to reduce the amount of waste entering landfills, rivers, streams, coastlines, and forests. This will help us to collect as many plastic bottles as possible that are consumed by schools and communities across SVG.
“We also want to foster community collaboration and promote self-sustainability. Naturally, when children are incentivized, they put more effort into what they are trying to accomplish. This approach allows students to earn income for their school and reduces the reliance on schools requesting monetary donations for school projects and activities. And then, of course, maintaining our brand and environmental awareness,” the company added.
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