[Exclusive] Supporting the "Clean Plate" farming initiative - Recording food waste weight, with SJK (C) Peir Chih recycling the waste into compost

Posted on 1st November 2016

Categorised bins were prepared in canteen, labeled for cups, plates, utensils and food waste, encouraging children to stop wasting food and helping to build a healthy dining culture on campus.

(Kota Bharu, Jan 10) From this new semester onwards, SJK (C) Peir Chih has begun collecting food waste daily and turning it into compost, aiming to reduce waste while fostering a healthier campus dining culture. After each recess, the school records the weight of leftover food and makes it into compost. This effort is part of the “Farming Clean Plate Campaign” , launched by the Malaysia Danjiang Di Zi Gui Teaching Centre together with HappyMove. The campaign helps students better understand the sources of food and essential nutrition for the body, while cultivating gratitude and appreciation for food.

The project is led by HappyMove's Foo Ching Yee, with strong support from the Danjiang Centre principal.

With the campaign now introduced into schools across Kelantan, SJK (C) Peir Chih is the first to participate. The school’s involvement has received positive feedback, further inspiring the integration of natural farming lessons into hands-on classroom experiences.

A student disposes leftover food into school-provided bins.

Students are working together to weigh the food waste.

After collecting the food waste, the students pour it into a pit.

The food waste is then covered by fresh grass and dry leaves on top.

Cherish Food, Eliminate Waste — Principal of SJK (C) Peir Chih

Starting this year, the school will guide all students to collect leftover food after every recess meal into designated bins. The weight is recorded daily, and the food waste is then buried in the soil to create compost.

This practice helps students develop the “clean plate” habit while putting traditional Chinese values into practice, passing down the virtues of diligence and frugality, appreciating food, respecting the fruits of labor, and avoiding waste, while fostering a healthy campus dining culture.

The program is led by the Head of Design and Technology, with full support from the school.

Learning Respect - No More Tossing Utensils — Head of Design and Technology in SJK (C) Peir Chih

The “Farming Clean Plate Campaign” has sparked great interest among students since it was launched in the school on the 6th of this month. Each day, around 8 to 11 kilograms of food waste is collected and turned into compost.

Since the introduction of the food waste sorting system, students have also learned not to mishandle tableware, practicing mindful sorting. Essentially, they've learned respect.

To avoid disrupting classes, all food waste weighing is conducted during recess. Currently, 6 Year Six students are involved.

SJK (C) Peir Chih became Kelantan’s first school to participate in the "Farming Clean Plate Campaign."