Samoa Primary School has won a recycling competition which also came with a $4,000 cash prize for the educational institution as the country celebrated Global Recycling Day.

Samoa Recycle Waste Management Association President, Marina Keil told the Samoa Observer that a total of 14 schools participated in the competition.

She said it was based on how many kilograms of waste plastic bottles, tins and aluminium cans were collected as part of the competition’s entry requirement.

"Everyone that participated with today's event and this whole week's event are to be celebrated, because they are recycling heroes,” she said. 

"The support from students was great, they were excited about participating in the recycling challenge. If we get more donors on board, we will do this more often”

The theme for the Global Recycling Day celebration was “recycling heroes.”

The following schools were the top five winners of the recycling competition: Samoa Primary School won the overall competition and was awarded a $4,000 cash prize followed by Saint Mary's Primary School ($3,000) with Papauta Girls College in third place ($2000).

Marist Brothers Primary School came fourth ($1000) and was presented a citizenship award ($1000) while Saleipoua'e Saleimoa Primary school came fifth and won a cash prize of $800. Three other schools won secondary prizes worth $500 and four other schools won consolation prizes of $300. 

The association also used the gathering on Thursday to raise awareness on the significance of reducing, reusing and recycling items.

Year 7 student at Samoa Primary School, Ainslie Bentin, told the Samoa Observer that they enjoyed participating in the recycling competition.

"I was very happy and having fun being part of the competition. We are very proud of ourselves and will continue on with collecting plastics,” she said.

Saleipouae Saleimoa Preschool Principal, Minime Gagau, said participating is useful for the students as it teaches them more about the benefits of recycling.

"Our school last registered in this program and we are in the top five. This program is useful to teach ways of recycling to young children to prevent littering in the future."

The Global Recycling Day celebration on Thursday also coincided with the third anniversary of the association. 

The association also acknowledged the support of donor partners as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the United Nations Development Programme, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.