SMK Khir Johari in Sungai Petani, Kedah, came out tops in the recent Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) 2025 programme, earning RM30,000 and a trophy for its food waste management project.
But the spirit and impact behind the project were priceless.
Team leader Laxsyan Nantha Kumar, 16, admitted his team did not realise how serious food waste was until they embarked on their initiative.
In Malaysia, the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) reported that 24 per cent of the 17,000 tonnes of food waste produced daily in the country is still edible – amounting to about 4.08 million kilogrammes, or 4,080 tonnes, of wasted food each day.
Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) Waste Management highlighted last year that food waste makes up 45 per cent of all household waste in Malaysia.
“After building compost bins, creating a veggie nursery, and educating our school and community, we saw how small actions can lead to big impact,” said Laxsyan.
“Through TEY 2025, we learned that sustainability is about changing how people think and act every day. Now we’re improving our composting system, adding tech features, and continuing our outreach to make sure the change doesn’t stop here.”
Laxsyan said winning TEY 2025 was not just about the trophy and prize money.
“It is proof that students like us can create real change. We worked hard, faced challenges, and built something that actually helps the environment and educates people.
“For our team, it’s a moment of pride and a reminder that our ideas matter. We hope others see our project and feel inspired to take action too, even in small ways. If we can do it, so can they.”
SMK Khir Johari also scored a double when its teacher, B. Sandra Gesan, picked up the Most Supportive Teacher award.
“This journey has truly opened my eyes. It’s one thing to teach sustainability in the classroom, but seeing my students apply it in real life – building compost bins, educating the community, and using tech to solve problems – that’s powerful,” said Sandra.
“It reminded me that education isn’t just about exams – it’s about shaping values. My hope is that they carry this mindset forward, becoming changemakers in whatever field they choose. They’ve proven that even at a young age, they can create real impact.”
Sandra said programmes like TEY can make a real difference.
“These programmes don’t just teach us about the environment – they give us the chance to do something real.
“When students are given trust and responsibility, we actually step up. TEY helped us understand sustainability in a deeper way, and I think our generation will grow up caring more and doing more to protect the planet.”
The 24th edition of TEY ended on Oct 29. SMK Mohd Khalid in Johor Bahru came in second with its e-waste reduction project and was awarded RM20,000. Another Kedah school, Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, placed third with its waste disposal control project, earning RM10,000.
This year’s programme expanded to 30 schools nationwide, offering RM167,000 in grants and prizes. Students were trained to apply Toyota’s 8-Step Problem-Solving Methodology – from identifying problems and analysing root causes to implementing projects and measuring impact.
A two-day exhibition and convention, held from Oct 28–29 at Wyndham Acmar Klang in Selangor, brought together the 15 finalists as they presented projects tackling critical environmental issues such as urban flooding, textile and food waste, and air pollution. The winners were announced on Oct 29.
Roll of honour
Champion: SMK Khir Johari, Kedah – Food waste management (RM30,000)
2nd: SMK Mohd Khalid, Johor – e-waste reduction (RM20,000)
3rd: Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Kedah – Waste disposal control (RM10,000)
Best social media campaign: Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Kedah (RM5,000)
Best presentation: SMK Mohd Khalid, Johor (RM5,000)
Best exhibition: SMK Kota Kemuning, Selangor – Drainage system improvement (RM5,000)
Most supportive teacher: B. Sandra Gesan, SMK Khir Johari, Kedah (RM2,000)