'Zero Waste' Club: The core of a plastic-free school

Initial challenges turn into a sustainable movement

Ly Tu Trong High School for the Gifted in Cai Rang Ward, Can Tho City, is renowned for its academic achievements and has also pioneered the movement to build a "Plastic-Free School”. The movement’s core is the Zero Waste Club, which brings together students who share a love for the environment and aims to make the concept of "plastic-free" a daily habit.

Mr. Nguyen The Chien, the deputy minister of Ly Tu Trong High School for the Gifted, recalled that the school first launched the "Plastic-Free School" movement in 2017. At the time, teachers and students faced significant challenges. Alternatives to plastic items were scarce, and it was inconvenient for students to consume food and drinks. Consequently, some parents disagreed with the school's decision.

However, with the teachers' persistence, the school used parent meetings and flag-raising ceremonies to explain the initiative's significance, analyze the pros and cons, and introduce plastic recyclingtechnologies.

Furthermore, the school mobilized external support. For instance, when organizations or businesses wished to donate gifts to students, the school requested that the donations be personal water bottles or non-plastic items. The school also minimized the use of plastic bottles at meetings and during guest receptions. Gradually, both parents and students were convinced and supported the school's decision. The awareness campaign became easier, especially since students at the specialized school are highly dynamic, perceptive, and quick to grasp new information.

Thanks to the collective agreement, the "Plastic-Free School" officially became a school-wide competitive movement by 2020. Eight years later, the movement continues to be maintained and has shown clear development.

"The school coordinates with the Emulation Committee to inspect each class, and students found violating the rules regarding the use of plastic items have points deducted from their class's performance score”, Mr. Chien said. "Currently, the initiative extends beyond the school premises. If our students are spotted wearing the school uniform and using plastic items outside, they will also have points deducted”.

This change is not confined to the school walls. Many students have carried the "plastic-free" spirit home to their families and neighborhoods, gradually changing their parents' habits. Challenges remain, however, especially since waste collection is not consistently sorted in the wider community. But this only motivates the students to continue advocating for social participation.

The Professional operation of the Zero Waste Club

To ensure the "Plastic-Free School" movement truly achieved its goals, the Ly Tu Trong High School for the Gifted Youth Union decided to establish the Zero Waste Club in 2018, operating annually with a systematic and professional approach.

Unlike many school clubs that are short-term campaigns, Zero Waste is tightly structured and continues through successive generations of students. When one group graduates, the next year sees the recruitment of new members. As a result, in addition to traditional activities, the club gains new ideas and initiatives each year, making its operations increasingly engaging.

Van Duong Mai Thu, the Vice Head of Zero Waste, expressed that the club's creation received support from the Youth Union and teachers, giving members confidence and the resources to sustain their activities.

Mai Thu explained that the member recruitment process is quite rigorous. Candidates must pass two rounds of selection: an application form and an interview. In the application round, the club not only records the applicants' desires but also presents scenarios to gauge their character and problem-solving abilities. In the interview round, the club's leadership directly asks questions to test their improvisation and problem-solving skills.

This methodology has allowed Zero Waste to assemble a dedicated and responsible team, with plans to recruit a maximum of 100 members for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Zero Waste leadership currently has nine members, divided into various subcommittees: Waste Classification, Recycling, Communications, Marketing, and Events. Each committee has its own plan and operates under a clear, unified assignment. Zero Waste's activities also link the movement with scientific research and practical product development.

In each classroom, the students assigned to cleaning duty perform initial waste sorting. After each school period, members of the Waste Classification Committee follow up to inspect and sort the waste a second time.

Subsequently, the Recycling Committee repurposes the sorted waste for various uses. For example, organic waste is composted for the school's greenery, and fruit peels are used to produce Bioenzyme dishwashing liquid.

Once the products are complete, they are transferred to the Marketing Committee for pricing, the development of a media "campaign”, and sales to students and parents within the school.

Tieu Hong Phuong Thao, Head of the Recycling Committee, shared: "From sourcing raw materials, fermenting, filtering, to bottling, everything follows a rigorous process. Because we utilize discarded waste for recycling, the costs are low, but it requires one to two months to complete the product”.

Additionally, the Zero Waste Club has created many other innovative products, such as room spray from fruit peels, plantable seed pencils, tote bags, beeswax wraps from fabric scraps, and scented candles from used cooking oil. Each product is tied to a story that promotes environmental awareness.

The revenue generated from product sales becomes the funding source to sustain the club's activities, helping students learn how to manage, operate, and develop a social project.

Tran Thuan Phat, a student in class 11A4, frankly shared that he used a lot of plastic items previously, even though he knew it was harmful. Since the school launched the "Plastic-Free School" movement, Phat has become more disciplined and has also reminded his family to limit plastic use. After deciding to join the Zero Waste Club and becoming a member of the Recycling Committee, he feels his actions are even more meaningful.

Currently, the Zero Waste Club's activities are not confined to Ly Tu Trong High School for the Gifted but have spread to other schools across Can Tho City. Each club member has become a highly convincing "presenter”, bringing the Zero Waste story to friends everywhere.

The value of Zero Waste lies not just in the competitive movement but in the way it helps students build skills in management, activity organization, scientific research, public speaking, and leadership. Most importantly, it fosters the mindset of environmentally responsible citizenship.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment assigned the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper to coordinate with relevant agencies and units, and the Green Future Fund to organize the ASEAN Eco-School Award Vietnam 2025 - Plastic Waste Free School. For all information related to the award, readers can visit the online newspaper nongnghiepmoitruong.vn, the ecoschool.vn Award website or Journalist Nguyen Quynh Chi, Phone: 0967181555 or email: nquynhchi.00@gmail.com.