Agent 00was7e: Licence to Recycle

The Agent 00Was7e - Licence to Recycle project was an Erasmus+ Small Scale Partnership (KA210-YOU, N. 2023-3-IT03-KA210-YOU-000171411) primarily focused on the European priority of Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, alongside promoting Civil Engagement and Democratic Participation. Led by Ambiente è Vita (Italy) with partners Jugendvision e.V. (Germany) and Association For You (Bulgaria), the initiative aimed to transform young Europeans, generally aged 19-25, into active agents for ecological transition by developing concrete competences in circular economy and environmental advocacy.

The project commenced with an essential phase of preliminary research (WP2), during which beneficiaries conducted deep-dive analyses of local waste management policies and operational practices, simultaneously carrying out practical mapping and cleanup activities of urban and rural micro-dumpsites in their respective territories. This comparative analysis highlighted the contrast between the advanced German system, the challenging regulatory landscape in Bulgaria, and the Italian context, particularly addressing the problem of illegal waste abandonment outside urban centers. The research phase confirmed the initial need for deeper awareness, as preliminary responses suggested knowledge was often superficial or based on spontaneous internet searching rather than intrinsic understanding.

A crucial element of non-formal education was the transnational mobility to Brussels (WP3) in November 2024, strategically timed to coincide with the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR). During this exchange, participants gained direct insight into innovative sustainable practices by visiting the Kringwinkel reuse center, an effective Belgian model that successfully combines materials reuse with social inclusion and employment for disadvantaged individuals. Furthermore, participants engaged with European institutions, meeting with an MEP to discuss key EU environmental policies such as the Green Deal and the Single-Use Plastics Directive, reinforcing their sense of European citizenship.

The learning process was solidified through structured online webinars (WP4), where partners shared expertise on local challenges and solutions. Topics addressed included the pressing issue of illegal waste trafficking in the Port of Varna, presented by For You with external expert testimony on the environmental implications of waste incineration, and presentations by Jugendvision on sustainable urban models like Stuttgart's Neckarpark, emphasizing innovative energy and green architecture.

The project culminated in the Dissemination and Promotion phase (WP5), characterized by public events and strategic policy dialogue. The learning experience translated into systemic impact when the youth teams formulated and formally delivered specific policy proposals to local decision makers in all three participating countries. Noteworthy results include the formal submission of the "ReVita" Reuse Center proposal in Bitonto, directly inspired by the Kringwinkel model, which was met with favorable reception by the Mayor and the local waste management company (SANB) for technical evaluation. In Varna, recommendations focused on installing recycling machines with incentives and strengthening punitive measures via surveillance. Final project results confirmed a substantial increase in awareness, with 95% of participants expressing an improved understanding of the European Union's proactive role in circular economy policies.