Trash to Treasure – A Means to Inspire Creative & Innovative Waste Management Practices 
As part of RUG’s ongoing Nationwide Waste Education Campaign, the much-anticipated Trash to Treasure competition was successfully held on Friday 13th June, 2025. In attendance were pupils from three basic schools across Kumasi: St. Louis Jubilee School, St. Anne’s International School and Wilson Adventist Preparatory School.
The competition aimed to challenge pupils to upcycle plastic waste, thus looking beyond used plastics as waste materials, and harnessing their hidden value. Representatives from the three schools showcased their crafts which were made using plastic waste as key resources.
Wilson Adventist Preparatory School made a set of impressive planters. Their main piece was a large flower pot creatively made from a car tyre, covered with colorful discarded plastic gallons and 2 smaller vases made from plastic gallons. The planters were filled with sawdust as a nurturing agent for plants. Their treasures demonstrated resourcefulness in waste to create items that support greenery and improve aesthetics. In addition, they crafted an outdoor standing broom with its bristles made from used plastic bottles. The goal was to have a broom that can be used for longer periods without having its bristles fall off or break off as it is in the case of the regular outdoor standing brooms on the market.
St. Louis Jubilee School crafted an aquarium which doubled as a fountain using discarded plastic bottles as key materials. The design included an AC pump to enable the circulation of water in the aquarium. The aquarium which housed three live fishes demonstrated a deep understanding of how scientific knowledge can be applied in repurposing plastic waste.
St. Anne’s International School presented a dustbin, creatively crafted from discarded plastic bottles, sachet rubbers and paper boxes. Their project effectively highlighted how everyday waste materials can be transformed into bins that can be used to collect various forms of waste.
These treasures not only showcased the pupils’ creative skills but also emphasized the potential of turning trash into treasure. The competition served as a powerful reminder that environmental education, when paired with creativity, can inspire the next generation to lead the way toward a more sustainable future.
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