Student at a primary school in HCM City learn four simple steps to recycle milk cartons. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

The “Green journey, recycling milk cartons” contest will be organised at nearly 400 kindergartens and primary schools in HCM City from October to December by Nestle MILO in collaboration with Tetra Pak and Revival Waste, with about 280,000 students expected to participate.

Nestle MILO aims to encourage children to collect and recycle used milk cartons to help protect the environment with four simple steps.

Children will learn how to put straws into milk cartons after drinking, then flatten, fold and dispose of the cartons properly. Milk cartons will then be recycled into products such as waste sorting bins and sports items, creating a "new life" for the used milk cartons.

Through the competition, Nestle MILO plans to collect and recycle 3.5 million milk cartons to make waste sorting bins, basketball boards and others, reducing nearly 35 tonnes of waste discharged into the environment.

The dustbins and sporting equipment will be a reward for schools participating in the competition, thereby helping students realise the benefits of collection and recycling milk cartons, and creating motivation for children to form and maintain good habits of environmental protection.

The contest marks the next step in Nestle MILO efforts for a sustainable environment. Since March 2020, it has been using paper straws for its MILO breakfast product line instead of plastic straws. This is estimated to reduce 6.7 tonnes of plastic waste in 2020 alone.

MILO has signed an MoU with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to install 30 playgrounds in Viet Nam with sports equipment made from recycled milk cartons.

In June, Nestle MILO, together with the Co.opmart supermarket chain, piloted the model of Milk Carton Recycling Garden, collecting nearly 15,000 milk cartons in one month. — VNS