Ways to reduce waste

When I first came to Georgia three months ago, I was stunned by the nature, the mountains, the hospitality of the people and the rather diverse nightlife of the capital city, Tbilisi. And also by the fact no one here gives a damn about what we, the European expats, call sustainability. What I’m talking about now is waste recycling.

Regrettably, Tbilisi is a very polluted city. Cars and buses have invaded its streets, poisoning it with toxic emissions. Apart from the underground railway, there’s no electricity-powered transport here. Garbage – whether it be paper, plastic, glass or biowaste – is usually heaped indiscriminately together in one place or another, before it is taken to a dump and, with more or less success, burnt.

In Europe (and, particularly, in the Czech Republic where I come from), people have long become accustomed to using separate containers for paper, glass and plastic bottles.

Tbilisi, it seems, has no time for monkey business.

I understand that Georgia has no special plants to recycle its waste, but I just cannot put up with how no one here has given any thought to what can be done to reduce waste. And reducing waste is so simple, if certain rules are followed.

Everyone can be more responsible and should start taking care of the place they live in. I will teach you how! Come to the event I’ll be hosting on July 9 in Tbilisi. It starts at 5 p.m.

It’s absolutely ok if you don’t know what sustainability is – we’ll be more than happy to explain. We’ll teach you how to manage broken glass, used plastic stuff and paper, and not only that!

Don’t forget to bring your old clothes – you may have a chance to exchange them for something else, or simply sell them. We’ll have a party with some yummy vegetarian and vegan food and stylish music. Make sure to come!

Published on 8.07.2016