Ecopack

The national charitable initiative Old Paper for New Book wrapped up on September 29th 2018 in Plovdiv where 2370 children took part in the event organized by ECOPACK Bulgaria and Greenwich Book Center. With the help of their parents, the kids handed over for recycling 12.1 t of paper, saved from felling 170 trees, and received 2,600 new books. The campaign was conducted with the support of Plovdiv Municipality, Ivan Vazov National Library and Plovdiv 2019 Foundation.

ECOPACK Bulgaria Executive Director Todor Bourgoudjiev opened the festive event. “It is not by chance that this initiative runs under the motto “Clean up and read up!” – it is because it brings together the care for nature through separate waste collection and reading,” he said. Siana Kolibarova from Greenwich Book Center thanked all the parents who by their personal example show children the way to books and the amazing stories hidden inside. Vassilka Cholkova, Head of Environment and Waste Management Directorate with Plovdiv Municipality also greeted the participants.

In 2018, a record number of participants supported the “Old Paper for New Book” campaign. A total of 11,290 children from 6 Bulgarian towns handed over 62.5 t of paper for recycling and thus saved 828 trees from felling. In return, the young eco activists received as gifts 12,870 new books. Among the titles was the latest publication of ECOPACK Bulgaria – Green Teen, published on the occasion of the campaign.

In Burgas 1,300 children kicked off this year’s campaign with 7.2 t of paper for recycling, 94 saved trees, and 1,500 new books.

In Haskovo, 930 children joined the cause. They collected 6.7 t of paper, saved 86 trees, and chose 1,150 books in reward.

The record for the largest amount of paper handed over for recycling was set by the children in Sofia – 15.5 tons. In the capital, the young enthusiasts saved from felling 202 trees and received as gifts 3,200 books.

The largest number of children took part in the event in Russe – 2,740. They collected a total of 13.8 t of paper, saving 182 trees from felling, and were rewarded with 2,950 new books.

Pleven hosted the children’s event for the first time. The city made a strong debut with 1,250 young participants, 7.2 t of paper handed over for recycling, 94 saved trees, and 1,470 new books.

The “Old Paper for New Book” initiative was first launched in 2013 in Sofia. It is the goal of the organizers from ECOPACK Bulgaria and Greenwich Book Center to motivate children from the earliest possible age to learn to take care of nature and to develop a taste for reading and books. Over the six years of the campaign it has been joined by a total of 37,540 young participants who, with the help of their parents, have collected 195.5 t of paper for recycling. In this way, they have saved from felling 2,558 trees and have received in return 42,470 new books.

The next edition of Old Paper for New Book will take place in September 2019.