Don’t Waste the Waste. Let’s help the Earth get rid of it

“Don’t waste the waste. Let’s help the Earth get rid of it” was TMIP’s third project to raise awareness of waste treatment among the local community in the Jelcz-Laskowice area of Poland. The campaign aimed to reduce the amount of waste generated, while increasing reuse, recycling, and the proper segregation of waste. The project was jointly funded by TMIP and the Toyota Fund for Europe (TFfE).

The subject of this year’s project was not chosen accidentally. Following discussions with the office of the Mayor of Jelcz-Laskowice, TMIP decided to help the local community solve the problem of illegal landfills. “Don’t waste the waste” was running from May 2010 to March 2011.

At the beginning of May, a poster campaign was run in Jelcz-Laskowice to encourage pet owners to clean-up after their animals. TMIP also arranged an exhibition titled “What waste comes from TMIP?”

In the period from July till the end of August representatives of local communities indentified illegal landfillds in Jelcz-Laskowice area. On October, after collecting the data, TMIP volunteers together with local inhabitants performed the series of events during which several illegal landfills were cleaned up and put in order. This part of the project attracted 12 volunteers from TMIP and 148 inhabitants of local communities. In total we collected about 20 tons of wastes.

Additionally On October and December TMIP organized used equipment collection action “Change used equipment into flowers” in 7 villages in Jelcz-Laskowice area, totally we collected 5 tons of used equipment and we gave out 1000 flowers bulbs.

At the end of November TMIP organized Green Plant Tours in TMIP. We invited local inhabitants and pupils from local schools to our plant.

During the tours TMIP showed how the plant manages the waste that is produced onsite. Visitors could also gain an understanding of TIMP’s efforts to continuously improve its technological and ecological attitude, approach and philosophy (Kaizen). The staff of TMIP presented the rules of daily waste management and explain how it can benefit the local community.

On 1st of March 2011 Committee Meeting was held in TMIP. During this meeting summary of the project’s was presented to the Committee members and the winners of two competitions, which were announced on the beginning of project, were chosen.

(1) „Photo Detectives” – artistic and photographic contest connected with illegal landfill’s’ identification
(2) „The most involved village” – the aim of this contest was choosing the most involved local communities (among those which took part in more than one phase of the „Don’t Waste the Wastes” project).

„Photo Detectives” attracted 6 out of 15 invited villages from Jelcz-Laskowice district. Criteria, taken into account by Committee Meeting were as follows: quality and design of the works, accordance with the rules of the competition and level of the engagement during the phase of landfills’ identification as well as commitment in the preparation of final reports.

The winners in this contest are:
1st place – Łęg village
2nd place – Biskupice Oławskie village
3rd place – Wójcice village

According to the rules of „Photo Detectives”, all contestants have received financial donation that has to be used to purchase electronic or electric devices which fulfill the needs of local communities.

As for the „Most engaged village” contest, 6 villages from Jelcz-Laskowice district took part in it and choosing the winner was very difficult.

In case of this contest Committee Meeting had to verify: the level of engagement of the, good cooperation and communication between TMIP, village council and village inhabitants, villages’ engagement in organization of landfills removal and participation in „Green Plant Tours in TMIP”.

Finally it has been decided that the titles of „Most engaged villages” go to the same villages which had won „Photo Detective” contest. Their supremacy over other competitors was quite significant.

Villages honored with first 3 awards has received financial grants that can be used for any purpose that is useful for local communities.

On 18th of March 2011 special Awarding & Closing Ceremony was held in Jelcz-Laskowice City Office. Awarding of the winning villages and TMIP volunteers was the main part of the event.

At the end all participants took commemorative photo.