From plastic caps to expensive medicine

Are you worried about the future of the planet? Are you sorting out garbage and buying less stuff? Maybe you are wondering: how can we put an end to environmental degradation and make people aware of the negative effects of consumerism?

Consumer culture affects the environment in numerous ways, primarily because we cannot stop accumulating waste. If you believe recycling should be mandatory, you are a responsible citizen of the world who – instead of putting all waste in one container – carefully sorts out garbage in yellow, blue, green and black containers. But: did you know that plastic bottle tops cannot be recycled when you throw them in the yellow container?

The recycling industry of plastic caps, lids, and tops is not well developed in Croatia, but it plays a huge role in our attempt to counteract global warming and various environmental problems we face nowadays. If this is news to you, do not despair! Our school, which is the first Green Standard Schools–accredited educational institution in Croatia, has decided to become involved in an environmental project with the aim to preserve the planet and help people in need at the same time.

A while ago, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association started a project called ‘From plastic caps to expensive medicine’. Founded in Čakovec in 1998, the association has been helping people who suffer from malignant diseases for years. They are not alone in their endeavor: many schools, kindergartens and companies are taking part in the project. It might not require a lot of effort from us, but it has a huge impact on the environment. When you decide to throw away plastic bottles, detergents, fabric softeners, cartons of milk or juice, dairy products and similar, clean the tops, caps and lids and bring them to our school. There will be a special box at the entrance, where you will be able to deposit them. The aim is to reduce the emissions of CO2 caused by plastic incineration, as well as take part in a humanitarian action, because the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association will get 1 kuna and 20 lipas for one kilogram of plastic caps that we collect.

It is not just our students and their parents that we would like to include in this project, but their neighbors, relatives and friends as well. Let’s show responsibility by being global citizens of the world: in other words, let’s help other people and the environment – our home. This month, when everyone can easily become obsessed with buying presents and accumulating more stuff, let’s remind ourselves that it is more important to be there for each other, and lend a helping hand to those who need it.