This year I would really like to be more active in everything concerning environmental problems. Last year may have been me starting out and it was definitely a flop. But my new year’s resolution for year 2019  is to be as active and do as much as I can.

There are many things I plan to do this year, but the most interesting for me is recycling and separate waste collection. Last year I joined the social movement “Eco Subbotnik” (Subbotnik means the voluntary cleaning), where we clean up the different areas of my city. The main idea is not just clean from waste the river banks or streets, but also separate recyclable waste by its origin (plastic, glass, carton or paper for example) from non-recyclable and pass it to the recycling points. 

This year these volunteers, me too, start sharing their own experience in the separate waste collection, consulting and training people, organizing new points for separate waste containers, communicating between recyclers and citizens in order to get some infrastructure within one’s household or office.  It is very important to minimize the amount of recyclables buried on the landfill, first - because it can be reused and we save the natural resources, second - because we prevent the soil, water and air pollution,  third – we use less landfill for the waste dumps.  My country is in the very beginning of the way which leads to full understanding of how the separate waste collection and recycling are important, both ecologically and financially. We hope that we can speed up this way for my city and people around. 

That’s why I plan to get the recycling bins in my new school (I just transferred last month). I find it especially important to do with exact this school, mainly because there are water dispensers on each floor. Usually people bring their own water bottles from home or they would bring their own cups, if there was a water dispenser. This school provides single-use plastic cups. Every day I see the huge bins filed up to the brim with plastic cups that they just throw in the trash. One mum (she is also from Ecosubbotnik) picks them up from rubbish bins, takes home, cleans, sorts and passes for recycling. We try to show people how irresponsibly it is throwing paper and plastic and food in one bin, for that we make meetings and discussion with the teaching staff and pupils.

So my plan was to put up separate containers for used paper, plastic, glass and alumimuim at the front gate of the school and small bins around the school so students can throw away their trash properly and then ask the janitors to also help. And it seems to be successful as just one day ago the Head of School gave her permission for that. We already agreed with the recycling companies that they will service the school and pick up the recyclable waste due to demand. One container, for electronic waste, such as batteries, computer devices or cables, is already installed, which I feel proud of.

If I manage to organize the separate waste collection within my school, next step will be to do the same with other schools. And so on we can spread the idea of Reuse, Reduce, Recycle more and more.

Definitely, I will keep up as cleaning volunteer and push the separate waste collection as a part of everyday routine, but I am very willing to try to volunteer in a pet shelter. We, the people, should take full responsibility for the animals we take home and made dependant on us.

That's what I plan for myself for 2019 and I am on the way to my goals!!!