Separating waste in the classroom: the most normal thing fór the world!
If we do not separate our waste, we will be throwing the earth bit by bit into the incinerator. Last year (2020) we just didn't manage to get agreements made to make it possible to separate waste in the classroom: the packaging industry was opposed.
Now I am focusing on politics. From 1-10 September 2021 I supped 300 km from Den Ham to The Hague with hundreds of Bright Binners Wishes and a proposal that got support from members of parliament and the State Secretary from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
We need to be more careful with our waste. Paper, glass and plastic are the best sources for new paper, glass and plastic. It is important that children are aware of this and learn how to handle waste properly. Learned young is done old.
For this, waste separation in the classroom is necessary. By separating, they learn what waste is, how you can properly deal with it and how waste can be utilized if it is collected properly.
But at most Dutch elementary schools, plastic and other waste often cannot be separated because school waste is officially commercial waste which makes separation expensive. While the waste consists mainly of what children took with them from home.
Therefore, school waste should be collected as household waste, so that children can separate waste at home ánd at school.
In 2020, I made 550 km sup tour from Maastricht in the south of the Netherlands to the isle of Schiermonnikoog in the north. Along the way I visited schools and consulted with all parties involved in waste collection. Almost all parties signed the Bright Binners Manifest. Only the packaging industry refused this and blocked the plan to make waste seperation in schools possible.
Thanks to a motion passed by Dutch House of Representatives this must be arranged by 2025.
To speed up the creation of rules that make waste seperation in schools possible, I got on the supboard again in 2021 and supped 300 km from Den Ham to The Hague. I visited schools, mayors, administrators, scientists and recycling companies.
From them I received hundreds of Wakkere Wegwerpers Wensen (Bright Binners Wishes) with which they asked politicians to make waste separation possible at schools. I presented these to the State Secretary and Members of Parliament.
They supported my proposal for waste separation in the classroom to become the standard within 4 years. State Secretary Van Weyenberg from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has indicated that he will do just that.
Again a great result! But not yet a 100% guarantee. We will continue our efforts until it has been arranged!
I am not accusing the material, but the way we put it to use. Plastic is a catalyst to our throw-away society.
Help out in our mission!
