You can not teach old dogs new tricks. That’s what people used to say when it came to breaking through certain behavioral patterns early on by raising awareness. Today, for example, it is called environmental education.
Around 160 pupils from six classes at the Sisters of the Cross found out about this last week when they were familiarized with the correct way to collect old electronic devices and batteries during the three-day project. The initiative, which was launched by the used electrical equipment coordination office Austria GmbH (EAK) in cooperation with LINZ AG, imparted knowledge through workshops or excursions to a waste collection center, for example.
For school director Stefan Schuhmann it was important to use the environmental project to draw attention to the importance of correctly collecting old devices and batteries. The major environmental goal must be to continue to advance waste and recycling management in the coming years (Roland Ferth from the Ministry of Climate Protection), and for this you need children and young people as “environmental ambassadors”.
The collection day, which the school organized at the end of the project days, shows what can be achieved with a little commitment and awareness. 600 disused electrical devices and 50 kilograms of batteries were collected and handed over to Linz AG for professional disposal.
Conclusion of the campaign: environmental education cannot start early enough. Everyone involved agreed on that. The goal that derives from this: every young person should experience such project days or a workshop at least once during their school years.
Source: Nachrichten
