Our school, Hollolan lukio is in Hollola, Finland near Lahti, which is well known for its games.

Salpausselkä Ski Games

During the last two years our school has taken part twice in Salpausselkä Ski Games. We took care of the waste disposal of the Games. We also researched what people think about waste sorting and recycling.

It was in 1996 that we the first time worked in the Ski Games. Then we had arranged so that there were several separate garbage bins for biowaste and for mixed waste. Our job was that we stood beside the garbage bins and advised people how to sort the waste.

A few pupils from our group also interviewed people because we wanted know what people think about recycling and if they regard sorting the waste as difficult.

After the Games we received affirmative feedback from the Games organisation.

When we again in 1997 took part in the Ski Games, we had developed the waste disposal based on the results of the previous year. Our task was the same as in 1996, only the questions of the interview were changed. The questions were about the transporting which was arranged from the center of Lahti to Salpausselkä. The majority of people regard the transporting as useful and we agreed. The public transport helps avoid traffic jams and reduce exhaust fumes.

After these two Ski Games we have noticed that at the big events the waste sorting didn´t go as we expected if there wasn´t anybody to advised people. However, we think that people learn more about these things every day and in future the waste sorting and recycling will be very a normal and important thing.

Kati Mikkola
Hollolan lukio