I know “recycling” and “sustainability” seems to be something everyone is talking about. Bringing old electronic equipment to the disposal and separating paper and plastic in different bins, I thought I was doing something. It was until my 7y.o. daughter started asking questions.
It’s all started with the video she saw on her favourite kid`s channel (Link) where it was explained what can happen with trashed electronic equipment. And I think it literally shocked her. She turned to me with eyes full of tears: “Mama, is it true? Do we really do this to those people? It’s not fair!”
I didn’t really know what to answer. I was trying to comfort her explaining that we had a great disposal system in Switzerland and the biggest part of the electronic equipment is being recycled in Switzerland, so we didn’t really have to worry about it. But at the same time, I felt I was just trying to shut the topic down running away from a simple but yet confronting question.
We checked a few more articles online: “… there are an average seven kilograms of electrical waste produced by a person every year….” And she jumped: “Mama, we just don’t ever buy anything anymore!”. Easy said. I just recently bought a multi-cooking machine online which I knew the ARF was not included. I said: “Instead of feeling guilty we can do a Fair ARF right away”. She couldn’t really understand what I was talking about. But with the new cartoon book by www.erecycling.ch that was designed especially for kids, it was much easier for me to explain her about recycling. Then I let her send SMS with vRG on 488 from my phone. I think it made her finally relieved, she started to learn about sustainability.
I personally think, it’s important to help children not to feel guilty but to teach them to look for available solutions, especially when it comes to recycling, there are ways to tackle the problem. The SENS Foundation produced a children’s book with illustrations to the topic which you can order for totally free of charge here – Link.
*This article was created in collaboration with SENS E Recycling. Images ©Family First.
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