Learning about Finnish environmental education and pedagogy

We visited Nihtisilta reuse center and learned a lot about recycling and reuse. Nihtisilta reuse center is a part of Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre Ltd. You can find more information on their web site:  https://www.kierratyskeskus.fi/in_english 

The reason why we wanted to visit Nihtisilta was the fact that recycling and sustainability is one main theme in our project and they organize education which is relevant to the topic. 

Our guided tour in reuse center started with a short lecture about ways to sustainable future. This is our guide Anu.

During the tour we were really amazed about how good and how big amounts quality goods people give away.

To sort out clothes takes a lot of time and unfortunately a big part of them is not reusable but must be thrown away.  They are taken to district heating plants to be burned for energy production. But intact and neat pieces of clothing can be sold and reused, some of them get a new life at the handicrafts workshop of the reuse center. They have created a unique line of products - Plan B - which they produce at the center. Here you can find more information about Plan B: 

https://www.kierratyskeskus.fi/in_english/plan_b_upcycled_products 

Also all sorts of materials are being separated and used in handicrafts or sold. Schools in Helsinki area can get free materials for handicrafts at the reuse center.

In the shop you can also find information about sustainable consumption and how to recognize good and sustainable quality in clothing.

After the tour in the center our workshop continued in the meeting room where we learned many new ways to teach students about recycling, reusing and sustainability. Anu and Elena made the lecture very interesting and they even made us play games with prizes. :) Afterwards some of us made some bargains in the reuse shop.