3. Comenius project 2012-2014
1. Environmental protection
is a practice of protecting the natural environment on individual, organizational
or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the natural environment and
humans. Due to the pressures of population and technology, the biophysical
environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently. This has been
recognized, and governments have begun placing restraints on activities that
cause environmental degradation. Since the 1960s, activity of environmental
movements has created awareness of the various environmental issues.
There is no agreement on the extent of the environmental impact of human
activity, and protection measures are occasionally criticized.
Academic institutions now offer courses, such as environmental
studies, environmental management and environmental engineering, that
teach the history and methods of environment protection. Protection of the
environment is needed due to various human activities. Waste production,
airpollution, and loss of biodiversity (resulting from the introduction of invasive
species and species extinction) are some of the issues related to
environmental protection.
Environmental protection is influenced by three interwoven factors:
environmental legislation, ethics and education. Each of these factors plays its
part in influencing national-level environmental decisions and personal-level
environmental values and behaviors. For environmental protection to become
a reality, it is important for societies to develop each of these areas that,
together, will inform and drive environmental decisions.
Voluntary environmental agreements
In industrial countries, voluntary environmental agreements often provide a
platform for companies to be recognized for moving beyond the minimum
regulatory standards and, thus, support the development of best
environmental practice. In developing countries, such as throughout Latin
America, these agreements are more commonly used to remedy significant
levels of non-compliance with mandatory regulation. The challenges that exist
with these agreements lie in establishing baseline data, targets, monitoring
and reporting. Due to the difficulties inherent in evaluating effectiveness, their
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use is often questioned and, indeed, the environment may well be adversely
affected as a result. The key advantage of their use in developing countries is
that their use helps to build environmental management capacity.
Ecosystems approach
An ecosystems approach to resource management and environmental
protection aims to consider the complex interrelationships of an entire
ecosystem in decision making rather than simply responding to specific issues
and challenges. Ideally the decision-making processes under such an
approach would be a collaborative approach to planning and decision making
that involves a broad range of stakeholders across all relevant governmental
departments, as well as representatives of industry, environmental groups
and community. This approach ideally supports a better exchange of
information, development of conflict-resolution strategies and improved
regional conservation.
International environmental agreements
Many of the earth’s resources are especially vulnerable because they are
influenced by human impacts across many countries. As a result of this, many
attempts are made by countries to develop agreements that are signed by
multiple governments to prevent damage or manage the impacts of human
activity on natural resources. This can include agreements that impact factors
such as climate, oceans, rivers and air pollution. These international
environmental agreements are sometimes legally binding documents that
have legal implications when they are not followed and, at other times, are
more agreements in principle or are for use as codes of conduct. These
agreements have a long history with some multinational agreements being in
place from as early as 1910 in Europe, America and Africa. Some of the most
well-known multinational agreements include: the Kyoto Protocol, Vienna
Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and Rio Declaration on
Environment and Development.
Recycling is a process to change materials (waste) into new products to
prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh
raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration)
and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional"
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waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to plastic
production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is
the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy.
Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic,
textiles, and electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting or other
reuse of biodegradable waste—such as food or garden waste—is not typically
considered recycling.[2] Materials to be recycled are either brought to a
collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and
reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.
In the strictest sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of
the same material—for example, used office paper would be converted into
new office paper, or used foamed polystyrene into new polystyrene. However,
this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same
product from raw materials or other sources), so "recycling" of many products
or materials involves their reuse in producing different materials (e.g.,
paperboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the salvage of certain
materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (e.g., lead
from car batteries, or gold from computer components), or due to their
hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of mercury from various items).
Critics dispute the net economic and environmental benefits of recycling over
its costs, and suggest that proponents of recycling often make matters worse
and suffer from confirmation bias. Specifically, critics argue that the costs and
energy used in collection and transportation detract from (and outweigh) the
costs and energy saved in the production process; also that the jobs produced
by the recycling industry can be a poor trade for the jobs lost in logging,
mining, and other industries associated with virgin production; and that
materials such as paper pulp can only be recycled a few times before material
degradation prevents further recycling. Proponents of recycling dispute each
of these claims, and the validity of arguments from both sides has led to
enduring controversy.
About Latvijas Zaļais punkts (LZP)
The increasing amount of waste has persuaded the European Union
Member States to search for sustainable solutions. Latvia is solving the
situation by adopting the principle of producer responsibility, i.e. the
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way a company handles its products and its packaging after they
become waste.
The companies that produce or import packaged goods or produce or
import electric and electronic equipment and goods harmful to the
environment (car batteries, batteries, car tires, car lubricant oils and
filters) are compelled by the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia to
prevent or to balance the environmental impact of the waste caused by their
economic activities. This must be done either by paying the Natural
Resources Tax (proceeds are used to finance the implementation of
environment protection projects) or by ensuring the management of this
waste – separate collection, recycling, recovery and regeneration.
Mission Statement
Latvijas Zaļais punkts (LZP) organizes the recycling of packaging waste,
waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste goods harmful to
the environment (WGHE) on the behalf of companies based on a multi-annual
action plan approved by the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund. LZP was
founded on January 11, 2000 and is the oldest and most experienced
producers’ responsibility organization in Latvia that has been taking care of
packaging waste management since its foundation. Since 2006 LZP has also
been dealing with waste electric and electronic equipment and waste goods
harmful to the environment.
The mission of LZP is to ensure an effective system for managing waste
packaging, WEEE and WGHE collection system in every region of Latvia. In
order to achieve the aim, LZP cooperates with the local municipalities by
concluding agreements on the introduction of waste management system in
the respective administrative territory. Thus LZP gains both the support of the
local municipality as well as a new partner – a waste management
organization designated by the municipality with which LZP cooperates to
implement, maintain and to improve the system within the administrative
territory of the respective municipality. Waste management organizations
ensure the collection of the recyclable materials by setting up and emptying
separate waste collection containers, setting up and maintaining collection
sites for WEEE and WGHE. LZP provides financial support for the collection
of the recyclabe materials and organizes activities aimed at raising the
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public’s awareness on the necessity and possibilities of recycling within the
municipality. The materials collected in Latvia are processed into raw
materials in other countries.
International Cooperation
Latvijas Zaļais punkts is a member of the Green Dot association "Packaging
Recovery Organisation Europe s.p.r.l." (PRO Europe) which unites members
representing 30 countries. LZP owns the exclusive right to use the Green Dot
trademark in Latvia.
Since the foundation of the LZP a joint system has been developed for the
collection of packaging waste, waste electric and electronic equipment
(WEEE) and waste goods harmful to the environment (WGHE) from
companies and residents and a substantial amount of recycled raw materials
have been delivered for processing.
Learn more about the achievements of Latvijas Zaļais punkts during its ten
years of work!
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RECYCLING
Why recycle?
It is in everyone’s interest that waste
does not
grow to become a problem that cannot
be
handled. Norwegians produce 85% more
waste now than 30 years ago, and the
amount is increasing. If all the people in
the world were to use as much as us, it
would not be enough with one earth, we
would have needed seven…
In Vestfold county, each inhabitant threw
away 521 kilos of waste in 2011. Imagine the
pile of garbage that would make if we did not
recycle as much as possible! About 64 kilos
were food waste and 16,5 kilos plastic
packaging.
If we sort our waste and recycle it right, it is
possible to reduce climatic emissions with 5,1
million tons CO2 every year. If every Norwegian
household recycle one jam
jar made of glass every month, we would recycle
4000 tons of glass.
That would reduce the CO2-emissions equally to
if 830 cars quit driving for one year! If all our
households also
recycled one box of Cornflakes every month it
would make 1500 tons of paper. That would save
us from 2300 tons of CO2-emissions, which
equals the emissions of 760 cars
driving one year.
A metal tin left in the nature will decompose in 50
years. When
we sort it from our waste, it takes only three
months until it has
been recycled into a new product. A plastic bottle
left in nature
would take 450 years to decompose! If sorted, it
takes less than three months to
recycle it into a new plastic bottle, or for example
a plastic pot or pipe.
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What can be recycled?
Recycling is a way of making our waste valuable again, not only to
ourselves, but to
everyone. When we recycle it is possible to benefit from the waste to
produce new products and materials. Metals can be
cast into metal products such as car rims, nails and
paper clips. Glass, paper and cardboard can become
new packaging and various paper-products.
Food and organic waste can become valuable bio gas and bio
fertilizer. Bio gas is much more environmental friendly than fossil
fuel. Did you know that a banana peel can actually make a car
drive 96 meters?
How do we recycle our garbage in Vestfold?
Vestfold is one of 19 counties in Norway. It has approximately 240.000
inhabitants, which is a little less than 5% of Norway’s population.
We do much of our recycling in our households. All households must
pay a renovation fee. This fee covers the main waste handling. We have
different garbage containers outside our houses, each with a different
color on the lid, indicating what kind of waste should be put where.
Food and organic waste (brown lid) is picked up every week. Paper and
cardboard (blue lid), plastic packaging (grey lid or large plastic bag) and spare
waste (green lid) is picked up every three weeks, and glass and metal
packaging (orange lid) is picked up every six weeks.
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Many municipalities (for example Horten) have a recycling station where we
can deliver larger amounts of waste and waste that require certain handling,
for free. This is waste such as electric and electronical equipment, paint and
acid liquid, broken furniture and garden waste.
How can we recycle things that other people might
use?
Things that still work, but we for some reason don’t want or don’t need any
longer can often be used by others. At many of our recycling stations there
are second hand stores where it is possible to give away, sell and/or buy
products that might have instant value to others without being altered through
a recycling process. Stores like these are also located in many towns and
cities.
Every Sunday there is a garage sale market in our city. Also spare time
activities, such as sports clubs and music bands, and charity organizations
often arrange flea markets. There are also various sites on the internet where
one can exchange things or sell and/or buy used equipment. Reusing things
this way is not only ecologically, but also economically smart.
And sometimes it is also possible to make nice things from things we usually
throw away. Like these nice lights or a pretty pen holder, made from empty
metal tins:
Every little thing we do when it comes to recycling counts. Most likely you won’t see
the impact it makes right then and there, but remember; there will be people coming
after us! Never judge anything too big to be achieved, or too little to make a
difference. Recycle!
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2. RECYCLE WORKS
When we work about recycle in our school, we use a lot of internet
resources, one of the main page that we use is this:
http://www.recyclemore.ie
In this website we can found a lot of information, activities and
resources to work appropriately with our pupils in English language.
Usually we used to invited to our classroom some members of the
cleaning team from the school, in order to know how they work, the different
tools that they use, their uniforms, their important job for all of us. Also we
invited always some of the municipality clean team members, with some of
their special vehicles to work with the plastics waste, organic waste, crystals,
etc.
Near our city we have a special place to recycle and detox waste
material, and every year we do visits to this place, with specialist people to
explain us the different ways to recycle and how preserve the ecosystem.
Another useful website, in Spanish, is:
http://www.reciclaenvases.com/
With materials of this website, we prepared different activities and work
for the pupils as this:
Found and circle the bigger packs:
Match the same packs:
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A tale with a puppet:
Hello! I am Bernardo, a packing of carton for drinks of milk and I am a type of
the hardest thing. Why? So because though it could to you seem softy and as of
carton, within I have something more: a heap of metal caps and plastic that make me
super-resistant and strong. Because of it I can dance better than anybody the brik-
dance. In addition, the milk that I take within gives me very much calcium and energy
to move non-stop. Do not worry because though I fall I do not go away to breaking,
not though my brothers of carton are raised on my shoulders for drinks, being piled
up. And for if it was small, across my skin I do not stop to spend anything of
anything: neither the water, nor the powder nor the light, so when you open me the
snack to take you will find your milk in perfect conditions ... mmmm very good!!!!
When you finish, do not forget to take me to the yellow container. If I go there, it is
sure that they will do with me a heap of useful things. My many skins will separate
and form new paper for bags and boxes and more metal to make coffee machines or
frames of windows, always very hard. Or probably I will turn into a gas that will turn
powerful energy. I will continue being strong, strong, if you help me to return and to
retrain.
Another activity is decorate the tin of some refreshments.
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Another activity that we use to do is make our own paper, like this recipe
show us how to do it:
1. Tear
the
paper
(feel
free
to
mix
different
types)
into
small
bits
and
put
it
into
a
blender.
2. Fill
the
blender
about
2/3
full
with
warm
water.
3. Pulse
the
blender
until
the
pulp
is
smooth.
If
you
are
going
to
write
on
the
paper,
blend
in
2
teaspoons
of
liquid
starch.
4. Set
your
mold
in
a
shallow
basin
or
pan.
I
used
a
cookie
sheet.
You
could
use
a
sink.
Pour
the
blended
mixture
into
the
mold.
Sprinkle
in
your
mix-‐ins
(thread,
flower
petals,
etc.).
Shake
the
mold
from
side
to
side,
keeping
it
in
the
liquid,
to
level
out
your
paper
pulp
mixture.
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5. You
have
few
different
options
here.
You
could
remove
the
mold
from
the
liquid,
let
the
paper
dry
in
the
mold,
and
then
peel
it
off.
I
flipped
my
paper
out
onto
my
countertop
and
used
a
sponge
to
wick
away
excess
water.
You
could
press
a
cookie
sheet
onto
the
paper
to
squeeze
out
the
excess
water.
Also, during this first period, we have built a city with recycle materials, as you can
see in these pictures:
Some ear rings with basic materials:
Some neck laces with cork and wood:
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3. RECIPE FOR RECYCLING
INGREDIENTS
1. Used notebook paper, worksheets, Christmas cards,
construction paper or other paper to be recycled.
2. Water
UTENSILS
1. Blender
2. Large pan at least 3 inches deep (a plastic dishpan
works well)
3. 2 pieces of window screen (each must be large
enough to cover pan)
4. A flat piece of heavy wood--like a bread board
5. Dry sponges and rags or towels
PROCEDURE
1. Tear 2 or 3 pieces of paper into small pieces. Put in blender.
2. Add water so that blender is 1/3 full.
3. Turn blender on to make pulp. After a few seconds, turn off and add
more water so blender is 1/2 full. Turn on for 10 more seconds.
4. Place one of the screens over the pan. Have a partner hold it steady!
5. Pour the blended paper pulp over the screen. Spread it around, but not
over the edge. The water should seep through into the pan as the pulp
collects on the screen.
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6. When water stops draining, lift the screen off the pan and onto cloth
rags or towel.
7. Set other screen on top. Using sponge, carefully blot excess water.
8. Place another rag or towel on top and a flat piece of heavy wood.
Sit on it to press even more of the moisture out--bounce a little to make
sure!
9. Remove board, rag and top screen. Peel damp pulp off of bottom
screen and leave it to dry overnight on some newspapers
10. Rinse out all utensils. Hang rags or towels to dry.
11. Use your recycled paper to create a special picture, card or collage.
====================
The 8 mistakes of recycling
By now we knew that the blue bucket onto aluminum, tin, plastic, glass
and packaging paper.
But what if the glass is broken or paper dirty?
Remember what we do well when we throw our garbage in the blue bins.
As the recycling of household waste taken important steps and more and
more willing to participate in the effort to reduce the volume of garbage,
is very important to avoid certain mistakes that may instead solve, create
problems.
We gathered the 8 " odd materials " that seem suitable for recycling, but
it is not.
1. Broken glasses. Glass packaging is recycled, but not broken glasses.
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The reason is that, since screening centers is usually done by hand, there
is a serious risk of injury to workers. This means that if you break a glass
or a bottle, do not throw in the blue bins, but in common.
2. Boxes of pizza, fast food packaging. The pizza boxes are made of
cardboard, so you may think that is recyclable. When the fly but are full
oils and fats. Indeed, as you try to flush, it does not entirely, as always
stay residues, while the same board seems to have «watered ". Therefore,
not only recycled, but a problem in separation process (formed a dirty
mass). Do the same packaging of ready meals.
3. Bags biodegradable or photodegradable. They look like simple
plastic bags, but not the same. While simple plastic bags can be recycled
and made plastic film, biodegradable or photodegradable, which are
mainly from the supermarket, have a maturity date and a point and then
begin to decompose. Therefore, not recycled. Also, there is the case of the
decomposition process to start while they are in the blue bins or recycling
sorting center, creating many tiny pieces, contributing to a pulp trash,
which makes it difficult to recycle.
4. Pieces of paper. The system of blue bins can not handle pieces of
paper, which is smaller than an A4 page. This means that torn pages,
tickets and other papers should not be thrown in the blue bins, why create
paper sediment that makes the whole process more time consuming.
5. Wet or soiled paper. Soiled napkins or pieces of oiled paper not only
recycled, but disable and other recyclable materials. Not suitable for
recycling is the wet paper, even when dry, because the fibers of the paper
«gather «when wet. The blue bins are good not throw paper towels and
toilet paper, even if it is clean.
6. Materials clay. Several household items are ceramics, ie from baked
clay such as old coffee mugs, which are replacing. They should not be
thrown in the blue bin because recycling is not at all easy.
7. Foams and Styrofoam. Both are highly flammable materials, can
catch fire at any step of the process of recycling. Therefore, dropping
them in the blue bins creates problems.
8. Packaging toxic materials. Plastic or metal packagings containing oils
antifreeze, insecticides, etc. , we must certainly not be thrown in the blue
bins, because the residues of toxic hardly removed .
