Waste electrical and electronic and air quality. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Waste electrical and electronic and air quality.

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions; Social entrepreneurship / social innovation; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

The air breathed by our students is not healthy enough. Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and consumables produce waste that seriously damages the environment.

In order for the students to get to know their immediate surroundings, this project consists of an in-depth, practical analysis of this reality. It consists of:
– The analysis of how EEE are recycled in the students’ school.
– The analysis of what storage and removal mechanisms are currently in place.
– The installment of devices in order for the students to get their own air-quality measurements.
– Researching on the work of the recycling companies the students visit.
– Researching on the impact that waste and air quality have on nearby natural spaces they visit.
– Researching on air pollutant particles, their impact on people’s health and the most effective habits that contribute to the improvement of air quality.

The key objective is to raise awareness within each centre’s educational community of the need for air to be contaminant-free and for an adequate recycling system of EEE waste. We begin with the practical and theoretical work of a small group of students, who acquire enough knowledge and awareness to be able to transfer it to peers from both their centre and nearby centres.

The work of this student group is cooperative: sixteen students of each partner centre are taking part during the 24 months that the project last. These groups are in contact between them, and each of them has a specific assignment:
– Greece works on the hardware component for data collection of air quality and the Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Devices (WEEE).
– Bulgaria works on the scientific aspects: air particles and their impact on health, impact of an inadequate recycling system on the environment and who are the polluting agents, as well as statistical analysis of the data.
– Spain works on the design of databases that are loaded with the air quality information that is published by public organizations, as well as on the development of a computer program that graphically shows air quality data.

The tasks are complemented with face-to-face workshops carried out in the partner countries’ centres during teaching and learning activities. Broadly speaking, they deal with:
– Installation and start-up of an air quality measuring device.
– Study of air quality data published by the responsible organisms.
– Study of polluting particles and statistical treatment.
– Design of a computer program to display graphically air quality measurements of the immediate surroundings.
– Identification and classification of EEE and consumables of educational centres and recommendations for recycling and storing each of them.

Three types of visits are carried out regarding teaching and learning activities:
– Visits to recycling companies, in order to get know the various management systems that are in place in different countries for electrical and electronic waste and consumables. The information received is incorporated into the Manual of Good Practices for the Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Consumables for educational centres.
– Visits to natural areas of each country, in order to get to know the impact that air pollution and waste exert on them. The information is incorporated into a unified Manual of Good Environmental Practices, which is going to be appropriately disseminated.
– Cultural visits, which raise awareness of cultural diversity, therefore promoting the students’ interest in European cultural heritage. Spending time together through these visits is essential to create a close relationship between the partner centres. This, in turn, favors communication for the cooperative work that takes place between mobilities, when each individual centre is working in their country and keeps in touch with the others through Internet.

The most significant results of the project are:
– Development of a computer program that displays indicators and graphs on air quality.
– Statistical study of air quality data.
– Personal Manual of Good Practices, in order to promote better air quality.
– Document and short videos with recommendations for proper storing and recycling of EEE and consumables in school centres.
The final objective is that the work produced, the studies carried out and the acquired awareness is transmitted to the European society as a whole. Numerous dissemination activities and contacts with organizations and institutions contribute to the achievement of this objective:
– Publications on web platforms and YouTube channel.
– Contact with recycling companies, Cervantes Institute, educational administrations, environmental associations, etc.

Project Website

https://twinspace.etwinning.net/94367/pages/page/691104

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 90516 Eur

Project Coordinator

IES PUNTA DEL VERDE & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Second Vocational High School of Chania
• American College of Sofia