MIT raises awareness on plastic pollution
Motukea International Terminal (MIT) marked World Environment Day by organizing an educational awareness program at Badihagwa Technical Secondary School on Wednesday, June 11, focusing on the global theme of “Ending Plastic Pollution.”
The program, part of MIT’s core sustainability goals, involved collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA), the Motu Koita Assembly (MKA), and Total Energies. The aim was to inspire young individuals to become active participants in environmental protection.
Melino Meyer, ICTSI South Pacific Environment & Social superintendent, emphasized the broader role of ports.
“Our ports are not just gateways for trade, they’re also platforms for change. Through this initiative, we hope to instill environmental responsibility among the young generation and help them drive long-term behavioral change in our communities,” Meyer stated.
The program at Badihagwa Technical Secondary School featured awareness presentations on climate change and plastic pollution by representatives from CCDA and MKA. Students also contributed with poem presentations. To further support the school’s environmental efforts, MIT donated 10 wheelie bins and 200 plant seedlings.
ICTSI South Pacific Limited operates two of Papua New Guinea’s largest international container terminals: South Pacific International Container Terminal (SPICT) in Lae and MIT in Port Moresby.
In a related effort, SPICT also celebrated World Environment Day from June 2 to 5. Their activities promoted the “Ending Plastic Pollution” theme in schools by providing donations of wheelie bins, hand gloves, garbage bags, tree seedlings, and school bags to aid their internal Environment Day programs.
SPICT also launched a seedling competition, challenging participating schools to achieve the highest recorded seedling survival rate by June 2026. Schools that received donations included Muya Primary School along the Lae-Nadzab Highway and Labu Miti Primary School, which hosted SPICT’s main Environment Day event.