RG/ WRG Feldgasse – ‘The circular economy begins in childhood’
From 24 to 27 February 2020, a school project took place at RG/WRG 8 Feldgasse on the topic of ‘Correct collection of old electrical appliances and used batteries’. This initiative was launched by Elektroaltgeräte Koordinierungsstelle Austria GmbH (EAK) in cooperation with MA 48. For four days, pupils from 21 classes were able to find out about the correct collection and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (EAK) and used batteries/rechargeable batteries in school workshops and excursions to interesting companies. They were accompanied by waste consultants from MA 48. The EAK provided the school kit it had developed for waste electrical and electronic equipment and used batteries with valuable teaching materials. The programme also included an information afternoon for parents and local residents. Elisabeth Giehser, Managing Director of EAK, gave a specialist lecture on the topic: ‘What do I do with my old mobile phone and toaster?’ A topic that is also supported by the district council. ‘As the smallest district in Vienna and one of the most densely built-up city centre districts, Josefstadt does not have its own waste disposal site. That’s why it’s so important to raise awareness of waste disposal and collection at school age and it’s great when children and young people learn about sustainable behaviour as early as possible, not just in theory but also in practice,’ emphasised Dr Josef Mantl, Deputy District Mayor of Josefstadt.
Feldgasse has been an official member of the Ökolog network since the 2019/20 school year. ‘We don’t just want to talk about sustainability, we also want to live it in all aspects of everyday school life. As an ‘eEducation Plus’ school, we not only want to teach our pupils how to use digital media correctly, but also raise their awareness of how to use, recycle and dispose of resources. With this great project together with the EAK and MA 48, we can achieve this educational goal much better,’ emphasised Holl-Blauensteiner, headmistress of RG/WRG 8 Feldgasse, at the launch event.
Learning by Doing
The school project days in Feldgasse seem to have brought this goal a little closer, as the workshops have left a lasting impression on the pupils. ‘On the very first day of the project, we learnt in an exciting workshop, among other things, that a mobile phone contains gold as well as copper,’ said one pupil, describing his impressions of one of the numerous workshops held by waste consultants from MA48. The old electrical appliances and used batteries school kit, which the EAK developed six years ago together with Austria’s waste consultants, played an important role in this. The school kit contains age-appropriate, illustrative teaching materials as well as samples of shredded metals. Including gold. ‘Wow, real gold. We were amazed, especially when the waste expert from MA 48 explained that a tonne of old mobile phones contains up to 50 times more gold than a tonne of gold ore,’ said the pupils, describing another aha moment of the week. Among other things, a washing machine consists of around 60% iron, 11% plastic, 5% glass and 3% non-ferrous metals such as copper or aluminium. An electric cooker even contains 83% iron. These are all valuable metals that can be recycled.
‘This makes it all the more important that old electrical appliances are handed in at the approximately 2,000 municipal collection points in the province for proper and environmentally friendly disposal,’ said Rainer Kronberger, Head of Economic Affairs, Waste Management and Material Flow Management at MA48, confirming the young people’s comments.