Creating a mascot with recycled materials has a reward for the whole class.

A fun initiative that invites more than 140 schools integrated into the organizations that make up the Navarra Waste Consortium to participate in developing a mascot with recycled materials in the style of “”.RECYCLEParticipant in each of the three categories (years 1 and 2 of primary education; years 3 and 4 of EP; and years 5 and 6 EP ).

The aim of this initiative is to “educate boys and girls to understand that by reusing materials we have at home that will eventually end up in the trash, we can make toys that will last a lifetime, as well as fun pets that can become heroes.” class. ”, says Óscar Rubio, head of the Waste Prevention Office of the Navarra Waste Consortium. He also adds that it’s “a fun and entertaining way to learn to work as a team while raising environmental awareness in our area.”

How can I join?

The creation should focus on recycled material, valuing class participation, the originality of the work and the number of elements of recycled materials used, as well as the name of the proposed creation. Likewise, the recommended size of the detailing should include dimensions between 0.8 and 1.5 meters.

The process to enter this premium Recycled Pets competition is very simple. First of all, the training center must fill out the registration form by 21 December. Once registered, the deadline to make the mascot is March 25, 2023, by which date a photo of the mascot with the entire class, another image of the individual creation and two photos of the creation process must be submitted.

On March 31, 2023, the three winning pets will be announced, selected by a jury made up of members of the DIARIO DE NOTICIAS marketing department and representatives of the Navarra Waste Consortium.

Óscar Rubio: “Boys and girls are educational representatives of recycling and environmental sustainability”

Why is recycling education so important in schools?

Knowing how to properly manage all waste, respecting the environment and knowing what we can do to protect our environment are some of the great lessons we should teach the children of the future as a society. Education from a very early age in the field of waste prevention, reuse and recycling is essential to raise awareness among families and instill the planetary advancement behaviors we want for ourselves and future generations.

What is the role of minors in sorting household waste?

Too often, technical staff or political representatives are directly overlooked regarding the current pollution or climate change situation, and the veracity of the facts is often questioned, as we have confirmed with temperatures this summer and this fall. It is a warm and abnormal, near reality.

In this sense, boys and girls are real educators of the waste problem and environmental sustainability. When a txiki tells us adults that this material goes into this container or that these other wastes are not dumped here, no elder questions his judgment and starts to separate it without question. Therefore, as I mentioned earlier, education should be done from a very young age. They are essential aids in communicating the importance of prevention, reuse or waste separation to their homes.

What actions for minors have been developed by the Consortium to promote recycling?

We carry out a large number of actions from the Navarra consortium. For example, to cite some of them, we support a comprehensive and in-depth education program in Primary and Secondary Education alongside activities for 0-3 year olds. Theoretical-practical sessions on waste prevention and management, food waste, responsible consumption, excessive clothing consumption, visits to treatment plants and more take boys and girls as heroes.

What goals does this first recycled mascot contest pursue?

In addition to raising awareness among Texans, our goal is to impact the families and towns where the initiative is run, as the benefits have a direct impact on the towns themselves and of course the whole of Navarra. We want the little ones to understand waste as a resource that can be given a second life and reused; What we call the circular economy.

The beauty of this action is the beauty and artistry we will find in the design of the mascots and the participation and teamwork of the whole class. In addition, all these works can be seen in a traveling public exhibition that we will hold once the competition is over and three winners in each of the participating categories have been announced.

What are the benefits of recycling materials?

Recycling preserves resources, reduces pollution, extends the life of materials, saves energy, albeit with different uses, helps mitigate climate change, the so-called green economy, in short the amount of benefits that will have an impact on the development of a large region and ultimately on our Community and our planet.

Is Navarre society aware of waste segregation?

Definitely. Citizens are becoming more and more aware of how important it is to produce less waste, and they are getting into the habit of sorting it correctly and putting it in the appropriate container. However, there is still a long way to go, especially in matters related to responsible consumption.