Reducing waste through participatory science
MerTerre
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
1,211new school(s) supported by the Adopt'1 Spot program funded
101 difts
5 € = 1 new school(s) supported by the Adopt'1 Spot program
Why we love it?
MerTerre's innovative project uses participatory science to raise schoolchildren's awareness of environmental protection issues in a fun way. The comprehensive approach of protecting, monitoring and cleaning up spots, combined with data production, is the best way to educate children while familiarizing them with the scientific approach.
The project
SensibilizationDecontamination
Support as many schools as possible to raise awareness and protect the environment
150
spotscreated as part of the Adopt'1 Spot program.
8 500
peopleand already a hundred schoolchildren.
25
metric tonsof waste collected during 338 pick-ups.
Solution
To meet this dual challenge, MerTerre has developed the participatory science program Adopt'1 Spot: a central tool of the Zéro Déchet Sauvage collaborative platform. Thanks to regular pick-ups, this program makes it possible toprotect fragile locations subject to chronic pollution and monitor this issue by collecting reliable data on the waste collected.
Through its educational component, Adopt'1 Spot also makes it possible toraise awareness in a fun way among schoolchildren (schools, collèges, lycées, leisure centers, etc.), introducing them to the scientific approach in the field and making them aware of their ability to protect the environment.
Through its educational component, Adopt'1 Spot also makes it possible toraise awareness in a fun way among schoolchildren (schools, collèges, lycées, leisure centers, etc.), introducing them to the scientific approach in the field and making them aware of their ability to protect the environment.
News
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The dazzling progress of the Adopt'1 Spot program at Collège Pont de Vivaux
On Thursday, February 1, 2024, the MerTerre association, represented by Vincent Lelièvre, Clémentine Tacchino and Sibel Bagci, rallied alongside pupilsfrom Collège Pont de Vivauxfor their first classroom session of the Adopt'1 Spot program.
This intervention marked the start of a rewarding journey for a class of 5th graders. The aim: to raise the students' awareness of the problem of diffuse waste, illustrate its impacts on marine and human biodiversity, and introduce them to rigorous waste monitoring at a site close to their hearts, the Pont de Vivaux racecourse.
The students' commitment was evident from this first session, with an impressive level of participation. Each question raised demonstrated their interest and willingness to take action to preserve their environment.
On Friday, February 2, 2024, this momentum continued with the first collection at the Pont de Vivaux Hippodrome spot for the 5th grade. After a week of fine weather in Marseille, the students had the opportunity to access the waterway directly with waders, arousing their attention and arousing their curiosity. The majority of students were present and eager to discover the quantity of garbage collected in order to compare their data with peers.
On Friday, February 2, 2024, this momentum continued with the first collection at the Pont de Vivaux Hippodrome spot for the 5th grade. After a week of fine weather in Marseille, the students had the opportunity to access the waterway directly with waders, arousing their attention and arousing their curiosity. The majority of students were present and eager to discover the quantity of garbage collected in order to compare their data with peers.
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, during the second classroom session, the group returned to the data from the first collection made. Based on this information,collective intelligence workshops were organized to consider concrete actions to reduce the amount of waste on the site. The students proposed an awareness campaign within the college and the racecourse, notably through educational placards. In addition, a letter was written to the brands most present at the first collection, encouraging them to set up a deposit system.
The class, as dynamic as ever, kept up the momentum at the third session, on Thursday March 28, 2024. This time, the focus was on concretizing the ideas formulated in the previous session. Large awareness posters were made and will be exhibited on the garbage cans around the college and the racecourse. In addition, the letter addressed to the major brands for the implementation of a deposit system has been finalized.
On Friday, March 29, 2024, the students carried out their second collection with renewed energy. After learning about the results of the first pickup, they were determined to continue their efforts to clean up their environment. The session went off very efficiently, and the students were enthusiastic about comparing their results with those of their previous intervention.
The commitment deployed by the Collège Pont de Vivaux students testifies to their deep commitment to preserving the environment. These successive sessions demonstrate the effectiveness and relevance of the Adopt'1 Spot program in raising awareness among younger generations and encouraging concrete action for a more sustainable future.
Adopt'1 Spot: Second waste collection session with Lycée Arthaud
OnThursday, March 14, 2024, another defining day became part of the chronicle of the spot des Bengalis, in association with the Epage Huca and the Lycée Artaud. This collaboration was a significant milestone in the fight against marine pollution, underlining the unwavering commitment of young people and the need for collective action to preserve our aquatic ecosystems.
The association MerTerre, represented by Vincent Lelièvre, Clémentine Tacchino and Sibel Bagci, mobilized alongside 20 second-year students from Lycée Artaud. The event was part of a partnership aimed at raising awareness and taking concrete action against litter abandoned in the marine environment, illustrating the determination of local players to take part in this noble cause.
After an initial briefing on the day's objectives, participants were brought together for a detailed presentation on the problem of litter in the marine environment. Powerful images and revealing statistics are shared toraise students' awareness of the urgency of the situation. The origin of waste, its impact on marine life and ecosystems, and the importance of collective action are highlighted. Students are encouraged to ask questions and share their thoughts on the subject.
Once sensitized, participants are divided into teams and equipped with sorting bags of different colors to facilitate the selective collection of waste.Instructions are clear and everyone knows what type of waste they need to collect. For an hour and a half, the students roam the riverbanks, diligently picking up the detritus littering the ground.
Once sensitized, participants are divided into teams and equipped with sorting bags of different colors to facilitate the selective collection of waste.Instructions are clear and everyone knows what type of waste they need to collect. For an hour and a half, the students roam the riverbanks, diligently picking up the detritus littering the ground.
Once the bags are full, the teams regroup for a waste characterization phase. Under the supervision of supervisors, students sort and classify waste into different categories, noting its nature and quantity. This stage provides a better understanding of the composition of the waste present on the site and raises awareness of the impact of pollution on the environment.
This event comes shortly after a period of torrential rain that hit the region. Of the 355 liters of waste collected, totaling41 kg, a significant proportion of220 liters (weighing 22 kg) consisted of plastics. This striking finding highlights the extent of plastic pollution on the berges du Jaret. Other waste includes metal cans, broken glass and various bulky items.
These figures, while worrying, reinforce the need for ongoing action to preserve the region's fragile ecosystem. The students, faced with the concrete results of their work, feel both a sense of satisfaction at having contributed to environmental protection and a sense of urgency to continue efforts to reduce marine pollution.
The money will be used for
The sum raised will strengthen the educational aspect of the Adopt'1 Spot program and offer customized support to schools, middle schools and high schools: awareness-raising, on-site waste characterization, coordination of collections, equipment, etc.
MerTerre
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
We believe in the power of awareness-raising, to involve the younger generation in the fight against widespread abandoned waste.
Isabelle Poitou
Founder and director of the MerTerre association
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
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