Baltic Approaches to Handling Plastic Pollution under a Circular Economy Context
BALTIPLAST

Daugavpils Vienibas Elementary School joins BALTIPAST Project to fight against plastic waste

27 March 2024
In collaboration with Daugavpils City Municipality, experts from the Baltic Environmental Forum Latvia engaged 8th-grade students at Daugavpils Vienibas Elementary School in a two-week project where they collected plastic waste, identified its types, and used innovative tools to track and reduce plastic consumption, fostering environmental stewardship and sustainable habits among the youth.
Technical details

In a proactive move towards environmental consciousness, Baltic Environmental Forum Latvia (BEF Latvia) experts, in collaboration with representatives from the Daugavpils City Municipality, engaged with 8th-grade pupils at Daugavpils Vienibas Elementary School.

Over the course of two weeks, the enthusiastic pupils dedicated their efforts to a hands-on approach, actively collecting plastic waste generated within their classroom premises. Guided by the innovative solutions created within the BALTIPAST project, the students meticulously listed their findings into an inventory tool specially designed for educational settings. Moreover, they embarked on a journey to explore viable options to decrease plastic waste within the classroom.

BEF Latvia experts organised interactive workshops, such as “Recognize the type of plastic,” students were equipped with the knowledge and skills to identify different plastic compositions. Armed with plastic waste sample kits, they eagerly undertook the task of identifying plastics based on their corresponding codes, thereby deepening their understanding of plastic classification.

Furthermore, BEF Latvia experts delivered a comprehensive lecture on the functionality of the single-use plastic waste inventory tool developed by the BALTIPLAST project. Subsequently, the pupils immersed themselves in a practical application of the tool, gaining first-hand experience in its utilisation. Empowered by this knowledge, the students were tasked with the responsibility of meticulously documenting all previously collected plastic waste in the upcoming week. This will offer valuable information about the volume and nature of plastic waste generated within the classroom.

By actively engaging in the BALTIPAST project, Daugavpils Vienibas Elementary School shows commitment to environmental stewardship. Through education, awareness, and tangible action, these young advocates are actively involved in creating environmentally friendly consumption patterns, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future.