Plastic to help: like ordinary garbage turns into good deeds
Covers from plastic bottles, old clothes, garbage bags - all this can benefit not only the environment but also charitable foundations. The Fund has studied how and to whom garbage helps and how to use their opportunities for peaceful purposes: to buy medicine or wheelchairs.
Who becomes the initiator. Civic initiative
One of the first to collect plastic lids began in Turkey in 2011. A student of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Aegean University, Kushtrim Ahmeti, took pity on a woman who was carrying a disabled child on her back - there was no money in the family for a wheelchair. He came up with the action "Blue Lid" to buy a stroller for the money for the collected plastic. At the university, the initiative was initially suspicious, but Akhmeti managed to enlist the support of the dean, and three months later the first wheelchair was purchased.
The Internet, social networks and the media were flooded with reports about the project, the campaign moved from the university to the streets, to public places - people made different kinds of boxes, five-liter plastic bottles for collecting lids appeared on trees, cafes and restaurants gradually joined the action. The action collected about 280 tons of plastic, 1,100 wheelchairs were purchased.
Similar initiatives have become popular in the United States since 2008, one of the most famous being the Caps of Love project , which began with the collection of recyclable materials, and in 2014 began to donate money from recycling to charity. During this time, 59 wheelchairs were purchased.
Since 2016, the Ukraine Without Garbage environmental initiative has been launched in Ukraine. The action started from Kyiv, and later grew to a national scale. Initially, the aim of the initiative was to help schoolchildren in the capital to obtain visual aids - three-dimensional models of internal organs or colorful puzzles. All that was needed for this was to collect and hand over plastic lids from various containers to the appropriate reception points. For every 100 kg of plastic, one of Kyiv’s schools received two models (3D heart model, hydrogen molecule or a special puzzle that allows a child to quickly memorize the structure of human internal organs). All materials are made of environmentally friendly plastic based on corn starch.
In 2015, a popular charity event # Добрыекрышечки in favor of the Volunteers to Help Orphans Foundation was launched in Moscow. In three years, more than 500,000 people across Russia took part in the action. Volunteers collected more than 125 tons of plastic lids, which were sent for recycling, and funds in the amount of 3 million 77 thousand rubles were transferred to the project "Close People" of the "Volunteers to help orphans". This was enough for 17 wheelchairs, uprights, special chairs for children with special needs, which are raised by foster families.
State
In Malta, plastic caps are collected for the benefit of the Malta Community Chest Fund, which is under the auspices of the President. Initially, public schools became the collection points for recyclables, collecting more than 115 tons of plastic in 5 years. At the end of 2016, this experience was replicated in the business sphere: in bars, restaurants, sports clubs.
Plastic collection is provided by the social enterprise GreenPak , and the commercial company transfers donations to the charity, thus not only demonstrating social and environmental responsibility, but also reducing the cost of garbage collection. There is also an element of rivalry, as well as reputational bonuses. Yes, the one who collects the most plastic is awarded a special prize by the President of Malta.
Also, the production and use of plastic in European countries are regulated at the legislative level. From 2021, the European Union will ban the use of disposable products - including plastic utensils, cotton swabs, drinking straws - that can be made from other materials. And from 2024, plastic bottles will be sold only with caps attached to them.
Business
In a number of other countries, the initiative to collect plastic or metal lids in favor of charities comes from business. As a rule, these are actions of social marketing of establishments where corks from bottles with drinks are always in excess: bars, restaurants and other similar establishments. It is common practice for visitors to be able to choose which local NGO will benefit from their traffic jam. One that helps cats, children or culture? You can choose different organizations every month, weekly or even daily.
Additional PR and fundraising
Often the mass collection of lids in itself becomes a grand event. For example, in 2013 the Colombian charity Fundacion Sanar, which helps children with cancer, collected 70 million caps (more than 150 tons of plastic) in 8 hours. This result was entered in the Guinness Book of Records, many media wrote about the event, and most importantly - the necessary funds were raised for five hundred young patients. A similar previous record was set in 2011 by the charity Fundación Garrahan (Argentina).
On the Guinness Book of World Records website you can see many other records with lids: the longest chain, the largest mosaic, the tallest pyramid of lids for City Day and more.
Some of these promotions include official sponsors - business companies, for which it is also additional advertising. In other cases, state-owned companies are involved: the post office, the police and others, becoming almost a national idea for citizens. Similar actions took place in Spain, Poland, the USA, so it is possible to study examples in detail.
Unsuccessful experience
Not all such actions are equally successful. For example, in 2015, the Ukrainian charity fund "Oats" also launched a campaign to collect plastic bottles (from water, juice, dairy products) and separately - plastic caps. Lid collection points have been set up in retail chains and public places throughout Ukraine. The proceeds were used to buy prostheses. The action was supported by the Ministry of Ecology of Ukraine.
Everything seems to be fine. However, the visual and communication campaign was not very successful - people did not understand the action, joking, because it is impossible to make a quality prosthesis from the collected plastic. Others were against the purpose of the collection: for prostheses for participants in hostilities. The foundation had to deal with the issue of informing that prostheses will be high-tech, and will pay for them at the expense of funds received from plastic processing.
What other garbage goes to charity
All those who found the Soviet era, sign the collection of waste paper and scrap metal in the Children’s Peace Fund. Lenin. Plastic would probably be collected, but it was not yet widespread at the time.
Meanwhile, the sites of international charities are full of ads for the constant collection of almost any recyclable and unnecessary items: electronic waste (batteries, old mobile phones, laptops, printers, etc.), used printer cartridges, old toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, shampoos, books, furniture, any brands and more. Relevant infrastructure is widespread - aggregator resources that organize such a collection for non-profit organizations; There are social enterprises that take over the entire organizational cycle of fundraising for the benefit of a charitable organization
. Garbage bags are also made to order by non-profit organizations.
Even old cars are collected for the benefit of charities. For example, according to the website of the social enterprise Giveacar , thousands of cars have already been disposed of, and the proceeds (over 350,000 euros) went to charity - in favor of the organization chosen by the owner of the car.
Multitasking: ecology + fundraising + employment + ...
The peculiarity of the above actions - "two in one", ie the simultaneous solution of social and environmental problems. But there are also actions on the principle of "three in one": the simultaneous preservation of the environment and the solution of several social problems. Usually, social entrepreneurs follow this scheme.
For example, many countries collect unnecessary textiles and footwear. Good quality items are either sold in charity shops, or sent to less affluent regions, or distributed free of charge to the needy.
Some textiles are taken away by organizations that help animals (for example - to insulate dog shelters). It turns out, of course, not fundraising, but quite material assistance (in-kind) or reduction of direct costs (fundsaving).
And even the rags that no one needs anymore can be handed over to a textile processing factory.
Another option for a multi-component model is to combine garbage collection with employment for vulnerable groups. For example, in Germany and a number of other European countries, the network of Catholic charities Caritas also organizes a mass collection of unnecessary items - from clothing to furniture and large appliances. In many settlements special containers or collection points are installed.
In addition to environmental goals, social tasks are solved:
- development of creative use of resources (Upcycling) - not only processing, but also making unnecessary and useful things from unnecessary things;
- providing jobs for people who find it difficult to find employment, often people with mental disorders, migrants who do not know the language well. These people are involved at all stages: sorting of donated things, their repair and more;
- transfer of things to the poor or their sale at a minimum price. For example, furniture or repaired appliances (washing machines, refrigerators).
According to a similar scheme, charitable foundations organize the collection of surplus flowers, fruits and vegetables from the population. Due to this, unemployed citizens learn new professions (for example - florist), get a job and income, making bouquets, and the proceeds are sold and re-directed to social goals.
Biological waste
There is another initiative that also addresses both environmental and social issues. While its description sounds anecdotal, nevertheless such large funds as Oxfam and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have become interested in developments in the field of microbiology that allow energy from human urine (Pee-power).
The development of such solutions can have a significant impact on humanitarian issues. For example, just one portion of biomaterial can charge a mobile phone for 3 hours - such portable devices will transmit human coordinates in emergencies. Such a universal source of electricity is especially relevant in disaster areas, in refugee camps. This is the protection of the environment - reduction of soil pollution, water bodies, reducing the level of disease in regions with poor sanitation.
One of the stages of the test took place as part of the popular British live music festival Glastonbury in 2016. There was no end to those who wanted to share their biological material for a good cause and the development of science.
Key Findings Collecting recyclables
and other unnecessary items for charity is a simple and attractive idea that also expands the range of people involved in charity and volunteering
: , and throw it in a specially designated place; promoting the idea of "every little thing can help";
2. Amazing transformation of small and unnecessary into a powerful result: helping needy people;
3.Double effect. Even if there is doubt about the charitable purpose, a person knows that his contribution is at least beneficial to the environment;
4. Reality and clarity of the result;
5. Fun, game effects - an element of competition, the desire to collect;
6. Involvement of children - educational effect, involvement in charity and entertainment;
7. Mass and democracy - the ability to attract a wide range of people, regardless of their gender, age;
8. Development of good neighborliness and solidarity;
9. Attracting attention to the social problem - both to environmental issues and to needy people;
10.Minimum costs - of course, garbage is worthless, in addition, there is an unpretentious but important message to promote the idea of charity: you can help not only with money;
11. Benefit and rationality - getting rid of excess garbage, garbage, reducing the cost of garbage collection and more.
The main risks are all those threats that are attributed to such a phenomenon as charitable slactivism (from the English. "Slacker, slacker) and" activism "). In addition to the positive effect - attracting attention and raising awareness of the problem - representatives of the nonprofit sector are sounding the alarm over the popularity of such a model of participation. The person likes the charity’s page and feels that it has already helped resolve the crisis. You no longer need to go anywhere, do anything, even donate money ... According to research, the "friend" who is the first to share a post about the action to help the needy, is less likely to make donations or other active actions.
If you know or have heard of other examples of similar initiatives in your city or met in other countries, tell us. Send all materials to us by e-mail help@ufond.ua , and we will be sure to tell you about it.
Read also: Business charity: stories about help from five Ukrainian companies
Who becomes the initiator. Civic initiative
One of the first to collect plastic lids began in Turkey in 2011. A student of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Aegean University, Kushtrim Ahmeti, took pity on a woman who was carrying a disabled child on her back - there was no money in the family for a wheelchair. He came up with the action "Blue Lid" to buy a stroller for the money for the collected plastic. At the university, the initiative was initially suspicious, but Akhmeti managed to enlist the support of the dean, and three months later the first wheelchair was purchased.
The Internet, social networks and the media were flooded with reports about the project, the campaign moved from the university to the streets, to public places - people made different kinds of boxes, five-liter plastic bottles for collecting lids appeared on trees, cafes and restaurants gradually joined the action. The action collected about 280 tons of plastic, 1,100 wheelchairs were purchased.
Similar initiatives have become popular in the United States since 2008, one of the most famous being the Caps of Love project , which began with the collection of recyclable materials, and in 2014 began to donate money from recycling to charity. During this time, 59 wheelchairs were purchased.
Since 2016, the Ukraine Without Garbage environmental initiative has been launched in Ukraine. The action started from Kyiv, and later grew to a national scale. Initially, the aim of the initiative was to help schoolchildren in the capital to obtain visual aids - three-dimensional models of internal organs or colorful puzzles. All that was needed for this was to collect and hand over plastic lids from various containers to the appropriate reception points. For every 100 kg of plastic, one of Kyiv’s schools received two models (3D heart model, hydrogen molecule or a special puzzle that allows a child to quickly memorize the structure of human internal organs). All materials are made of environmentally friendly plastic based on corn starch.In 2015, a popular charity event # Добрыекрышечки in favor of the Volunteers to Help Orphans Foundation was launched in Moscow. In three years, more than 500,000 people across Russia took part in the action. Volunteers collected more than 125 tons of plastic lids, which were sent for recycling, and funds in the amount of 3 million 77 thousand rubles were transferred to the project "Close People" of the "Volunteers to help orphans". This was enough for 17 wheelchairs, uprights, special chairs for children with special needs, which are raised by foster families.
State
In Malta, plastic caps are collected for the benefit of the Malta Community Chest Fund, which is under the auspices of the President. Initially, public schools became the collection points for recyclables, collecting more than 115 tons of plastic in 5 years. At the end of 2016, this experience was replicated in the business sphere: in bars, restaurants, sports clubs.
Plastic collection is provided by the social enterprise GreenPak , and the commercial company transfers donations to the charity, thus not only demonstrating social and environmental responsibility, but also reducing the cost of garbage collection. There is also an element of rivalry, as well as reputational bonuses. Yes, the one who collects the most plastic is awarded a special prize by the President of Malta.
Also, the production and use of plastic in European countries are regulated at the legislative level. From 2021, the European Union will ban the use of disposable products - including plastic utensils, cotton swabs, drinking straws - that can be made from other materials. And from 2024, plastic bottles will be sold only with caps attached to them. Business
In a number of other countries, the initiative to collect plastic or metal lids in favor of charities comes from business. As a rule, these are actions of social marketing of establishments where corks from bottles with drinks are always in excess: bars, restaurants and other similar establishments. It is common practice for visitors to be able to choose which local NGO will benefit from their traffic jam. One that helps cats, children or culture? You can choose different organizations every month, weekly or even daily.
Additional PR and fundraising
Often the mass collection of lids in itself becomes a grand event. For example, in 2013 the Colombian charity Fundacion Sanar, which helps children with cancer, collected 70 million caps (more than 150 tons of plastic) in 8 hours. This result was entered in the Guinness Book of Records, many media wrote about the event, and most importantly - the necessary funds were raised for five hundred young patients. A similar previous record was set in 2011 by the charity Fundación Garrahan (Argentina).
On the Guinness Book of World Records website you can see many other records with lids: the longest chain, the largest mosaic, the tallest pyramid of lids for City Day and more.
Some of these promotions include official sponsors - business companies, for which it is also additional advertising. In other cases, state-owned companies are involved: the post office, the police and others, becoming almost a national idea for citizens. Similar actions took place in Spain, Poland, the USA, so it is possible to study examples in detail.
Unsuccessful experience
Not all such actions are equally successful. For example, in 2015, the Ukrainian charity fund "Oats" also launched a campaign to collect plastic bottles (from water, juice, dairy products) and separately - plastic caps. Lid collection points have been set up in retail chains and public places throughout Ukraine. The proceeds were used to buy prostheses. The action was supported by the Ministry of Ecology of Ukraine.
Everything seems to be fine. However, the visual and communication campaign was not very successful - people did not understand the action, joking, because it is impossible to make a quality prosthesis from the collected plastic. Others were against the purpose of the collection: for prostheses for participants in hostilities. The foundation had to deal with the issue of informing that prostheses will be high-tech, and will pay for them at the expense of funds received from plastic processing.
What other garbage goes to charity
All those who found the Soviet era, sign the collection of waste paper and scrap metal in the Children’s Peace Fund. Lenin. Plastic would probably be collected, but it was not yet widespread at the time.
Meanwhile, the sites of international charities are full of ads for the constant collection of almost any recyclable and unnecessary items: electronic waste (batteries, old mobile phones, laptops, printers, etc.), used printer cartridges, old toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, shampoos, books, furniture, any brands and more. Relevant infrastructure is widespread - aggregator resources that organize such a collection for non-profit organizations; There are social enterprises that take over the entire organizational cycle of fundraising for the benefit of a charitable organization
. Garbage bags are also made to order by non-profit organizations.
Even old cars are collected for the benefit of charities. For example, according to the website of the social enterprise Giveacar , thousands of cars have already been disposed of, and the proceeds (over 350,000 euros) went to charity - in favor of the organization chosen by the owner of the car.
Multitasking: ecology + fundraising + employment + ...
The peculiarity of the above actions - "two in one", ie the simultaneous solution of social and environmental problems. But there are also actions on the principle of "three in one": the simultaneous preservation of the environment and the solution of several social problems. Usually, social entrepreneurs follow this scheme.
For example, many countries collect unnecessary textiles and footwear. Good quality items are either sold in charity shops, or sent to less affluent regions, or distributed free of charge to the needy.
Some textiles are taken away by organizations that help animals (for example - to insulate dog shelters). It turns out, of course, not fundraising, but quite material assistance (in-kind) or reduction of direct costs (fundsaving).
And even the rags that no one needs anymore can be handed over to a textile processing factory.
Another option for a multi-component model is to combine garbage collection with employment for vulnerable groups. For example, in Germany and a number of other European countries, the network of Catholic charities Caritas also organizes a mass collection of unnecessary items - from clothing to furniture and large appliances. In many settlements special containers or collection points are installed.
In addition to environmental goals, social tasks are solved:
- development of creative use of resources (Upcycling) - not only processing, but also making unnecessary and useful things from unnecessary things;
- providing jobs for people who find it difficult to find employment, often people with mental disorders, migrants who do not know the language well. These people are involved at all stages: sorting of donated things, their repair and more;
- transfer of things to the poor or their sale at a minimum price. For example, furniture or repaired appliances (washing machines, refrigerators).
According to a similar scheme, charitable foundations organize the collection of surplus flowers, fruits and vegetables from the population. Due to this, unemployed citizens learn new professions (for example - florist), get a job and income, making bouquets, and the proceeds are sold and re-directed to social goals.
Biological waste
There is another initiative that also addresses both environmental and social issues. While its description sounds anecdotal, nevertheless such large funds as Oxfam and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have become interested in developments in the field of microbiology that allow energy from human urine (Pee-power).
The development of such solutions can have a significant impact on humanitarian issues. For example, just one portion of biomaterial can charge a mobile phone for 3 hours - such portable devices will transmit human coordinates in emergencies. Such a universal source of electricity is especially relevant in disaster areas, in refugee camps. This is the protection of the environment - reduction of soil pollution, water bodies, reducing the level of disease in regions with poor sanitation.
One of the stages of the test took place as part of the popular British live music festival Glastonbury in 2016. There was no end to those who wanted to share their biological material for a good cause and the development of science.
Key Findings Collecting recyclables
and other unnecessary items for charity is a simple and attractive idea that also expands the range of people involved in charity and volunteering
: , and throw it in a specially designated place; promoting the idea of "every little thing can help";
2. Amazing transformation of small and unnecessary into a powerful result: helping needy people;
3.Double effect. Even if there is doubt about the charitable purpose, a person knows that his contribution is at least beneficial to the environment;
4. Reality and clarity of the result;
5. Fun, game effects - an element of competition, the desire to collect;
6. Involvement of children - educational effect, involvement in charity and entertainment;
7. Mass and democracy - the ability to attract a wide range of people, regardless of their gender, age;
8. Development of good neighborliness and solidarity;
9. Attracting attention to the social problem - both to environmental issues and to needy people;
10.Minimum costs - of course, garbage is worthless, in addition, there is an unpretentious but important message to promote the idea of charity: you can help not only with money;
11. Benefit and rationality - getting rid of excess garbage, garbage, reducing the cost of garbage collection and more.
The main risks are all those threats that are attributed to such a phenomenon as charitable slactivism (from the English. "Slacker, slacker) and" activism "). In addition to the positive effect - attracting attention and raising awareness of the problem - representatives of the nonprofit sector are sounding the alarm over the popularity of such a model of participation. The person likes the charity’s page and feels that it has already helped resolve the crisis. You no longer need to go anywhere, do anything, even donate money ... According to research, the "friend" who is the first to share a post about the action to help the needy, is less likely to make donations or other active actions.
If you know or have heard of other examples of similar initiatives in your city or met in other countries, tell us. Send all materials to us by e-mail help@ufond.ua , and we will be sure to tell you about it.
Read also: Business charity: stories about help from five Ukrainian companies