At the initiative of the coordinating teacher from the Special Technological High School “Queen Elisabeth”, Mr. Cătălin Nicolaidi, on the 8th of May we had the opportunity to present in front of a group of distinguished youngsters the reasons to collect and recycle waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

The students of the Special Technological High School see the world very clearly, not with the eyes, but with the soul and mind. Their sight disabilities do not impede them to be courageous, to care about and treat with respect everything around – the people and the nature.  They proved it when they attended our presentations about the process the e-waste goes through, starting with the separate collection and finishing with the professional recycling and recovery of re-usable materials; thus, they became aware of the role that everyone of us has with respect to the environment protection. They even planned to visit a recycling plant, to understand better what happens with “the old PC from home” once it takes the way of the Romanian Recycling Association – RoRec.

I think this project it is very important as it makes our students familiar with the issue of environment protection through separate collection of e-waste. Furthermore, the project boosts their sense of responsibility and makes them realize they can contribute to a positive change around them, despite their sight disabilities. We urge them to get involved, to wish more and define their role in the society by their own endeavors, not by the others’ compassion. The prizes are not a priority. The most important gain is the experience and the lessons they will learn by taking part in the Recycling Patrol stated the coordinating teacher, Cătălin Nicolaidi.

Together with the high school students, we outlined a few ideas that inspire us. These students believe that those who work in the technology field have to be more responsible about the impact of electrical equipment in our life.  The correct way to choose, use and dispose of it becomes a must, which our interlocutors perfectly understood.

In just a few days, starting with May 15th, we will find out the WEEE amounts collected by the Recycling Patrols of the 2013 edition, as well as how the latter could contribute to changing mentality and behavior in their communities.