In response to the OpenIdeo ‘recycle challenge’, Timmy de Vos from the Netherlands presented the idea of an e-waste race. The e-waste race is a competition between schools to collect as much e-waste as possible. The project increases awareness through children and works on the collection of e-waste to be recycled. Through smart use of an interactive website, www.ewasterace.nl, people in the neighborhood can easily offer their waste online from home.
Kids from the participating schools can make a digital appointment to collect the stuff offered online. This way the score is registered and shown online to increase the gaming element. The e-waste race has already proven its success in its first pilot in the Netherlands. During 5 weeks, 7 schools from all over the country participated. In total, they collected over 14,000 kilos of E-waste.
Team Earthr
Ecobirdy targets school going children to make them more aware about how the use of common plastic toys can be harmful to the planet and how old plastic toys can be given life.
They have curated a storybook for this purpose which is read to the students and a large collection container is brought to the schools where the children and their parents are invited to bring their old and unused plastic toys to donate.
How do they keep them involved: Transparency of upcycling. All kids and parents are asked to leave their contact when bringing old toys. They receive an email as soon as their old toys is given a new life.
After the collection in schools, the plastic toys are unpacked and prepared in a sheltered workshop. The toys are checked to make sure there are no unwanted materials such as batteries and textiles. Following this, all plastic toys that can be recycled are put into a large container and transported to the professional recycling centre. By collaborating with a sheltered workshop, they strive to create social-added value.
The recycled plastic is used to create furniture for children which can be purchased from their website and is further recyclable.