Cultivating a Cleaner Future: APU Farming Club's Zero Littering Challenge Addressing SDG-2 & SDG-11

On June 5th, 2024, the APU Farming Club hosted the "Zero Littering Challenge" to commemorate World Environment Day. Spearheaded by Ryuta Motomura, an international student from Japan pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) (Artificial Intelligence) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), this initiative aimed to tackle the persistent issue of littering at the common area beyond the campus buildings.

Cleaning up for Farming Island

The APU Farming Club, under Ryuta's leadership, has transformed borrowed land and plant pots from APU into a flourishing "Farming Island". Here, club members participate in every step of the agricultural process, from sowing seeds to harvesting crops, gaining invaluable agricultural knowledge and practical experience. Ryuta envisions this project as a step towards self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship, with the harvested crops either sold on campus or used for community activities.

“We affectionately name this area ‘Farming Island’ where we plan to grow vegetables for self-sufficiency,” said Ryuta. However, the accumulation of litter such as plastic bottles, bags, and aluminium cans in non-pedestrian areas posed a threat to their vision.

To address this issue, the club organised the Zero Littering Challenge. With guidance from Mr David Tan, Senior Lecturer at the School of Technology (SoT), and Ms Hashanna Abdul Halim, Assistant Manager of Student Affairs, the event aimed to raise environmental awareness and maintain a clean area around APU, fostering a conducive environment for plant growth.

“I believe that the farming project can have a positive impact on humanity, and keeping the farming space clean is an integral part of this,” Ryuta emphasised. This project was co-initiated by Miyu Hiruta, the vice president of the club, who shares a strong belief in environmental protection.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the club aims to address “SDG-2: Zero Hunger” by demonstrating how agriculture can contribute to solving food issues and “SDG-11: Sustainable Cities and Communities” by highlighting the importance of sustainable food sources for thriving communities.

Rolling Up Their Sleeves

The event, held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., saw around 40 participants, including 20 club members and students from diverse countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, India, UAE, Brunei, and Myanmar. This diverse turnout underscored the success of their promotional campaign, fostering international exchange and collaboration.

Volunteers spent the evening removing decayed plastic waste from the soil, clearing bulky items dumped by the roadside, and picking up drinking containers in the grass. The timing of the event was strategic, as Ryuta explained, “Classes for everyone ended after 6 p.m. To maximise participation, we scheduled the event in the evening. The cooler temperature also made it a more comfortable time for the activity.”

In just one hour, the team collected approximately 20 bags of trash, showcasing the effectiveness of their efforts. To sustain this momentum, the club suggested several measures to combat littering, including:

Measures to Combat Littering

• Regularly Organising Litter Cleanup Events: Keeping areas clean deters further littering.
• Increasing Participation in Litter Pickup Events: Encouraging involvement raises awareness and discourages littering.
• Installing More Trash Cans: Providing adequate disposal options reduces littering.

Participants’ Sharing

“I think everyone should be more aware of their surroundings, especially in the sense of environmental cleanliness. Not only should we all play a part in volunteering for these types of events, but we should also promote the importance of environmental awareness at any given chance so that we can raise the public’s awareness about such issues.” — Miyu Hiruta, Foundation in Business student, Japanese.

“I hope everyone else feels the same way I do about helping the Earth become a better and cleaner place. I was filled with ecstasy and had a lot of fun participating in the event. I was a bit upset when the time was up. I would like to show my peers the benefits of cleaning up trash around APU and how it can make them better people.” — David Joshua Edulan, Bachelor in Banking and Finance (Hons) with a specialism in Financial Technology student, Filipino.

Club’s Commitment

Looking ahead, Ryuta emphasised the club's commitment to maintaining a clean environment for farming. “Farming in a clean environment promotes the healthy growth of crops and efficiency. We also plan to maintain a sustainable agricultural environment through regular cleaning activities.”

He concluded, “Through continuous cleanup activities and extensive promotion, I want to spread environmental awareness among my peers. By showing concrete actions, I believe more people will be encouraged to participate in environmental protection.”

The Zero Littering Challenge not only highlighted the APU Farming Club's dedication to environmental sustainability but also showcased the power of collective action in creating a cleaner, greener future.