Treasure Trove of Bottles Amassed: Celebrate Your Deposit for 350,000 Bottles on Birthday!
In a unique collaboration, Hamburg Airport, Hinz&Kunzt, and Green Dot have teamed up for the second consecutive year in a deposit collection project. This initiative, which started after some initial disagreements with the airport authorities, has proven to be a resounding success.
The project allows bottle collectors to gather deposit bottles from regular waste bins within the airport, following specific rules. Once collected, these bottles are sorted, cleaned, and packed by deposit commissioners hired by Hinz&Kunzt. The deposit money is then transferred to Hinz&Kunzt, who utilise it to support their cause.
Hinz&Kunzt, a well-known Hamburg-based street magazine, provides work opportunities for homeless and socially disadvantaged individuals, enabling them to earn a living by selling the magazine. Green Dot, a renowned German recycling and deposit system, is responsible for the collection and processing of packaging materials.
Despite some initial challenges, the project has remained consistent, with no cancellations in the past year, even during holidays when participants work alone. Stephan Karrenbauer, the project leader and a social worker at Hinz&Kunzt, expressed his satisfaction with the reliability of the project participants.
One of the participants, Uwe, expressed his desire to continue working and earning his own money, avoiding dependence on Hartz IV, the German unemployment benefit. Another participant, Georgi, shared his gratitude for the support he received from his colleagues when he faced hardships in Bulgaria and Portugal.
This project has made a significant impact on the lives of its participants. Georgi and his family, for instance, have been provided with an apartment, a marked improvement from living with eight people in two church cottages on just 36 square meters. His children now have their own rooms, and the family is now insured.
The project has also been financially successful. By September 1st, it had collected 350,000 deposit bottles, enough to finance three full-time positions. A half position will be added in the long term.
In addition to the deposit collection, the project also supports the Rotary project "Lid against Polio". The collectors gather lids from water bottles, and the revenue from 500 lids is enough for one vaccination.
Main initiator Johannes Scharnberg is pleased with the project's success and considers it a great thing. Klaus, a deposit commissioner, is currently pushing a collection container through the terminal, while another commissioner, Georgi, finds the job "great".
The "Donate your deposit" project has been ongoing for a year, and the jobs for the project participants are secured for another year. Klaus, who used to sell the street magazine, misses it but is proud of having a real job. Uwe, who gets up at 4:30 AM for his early shifts, is determined to continue contributing to the project.
This collaboration between Hamburg Airport, Hinz&Kunzt, and Green Dot is not just a recycling project; it's a testament to the power of cooperation in creating meaningful change for the community.
- By selling the magazine, homeless and socially disadvantaged individuals like Uwe earn their living, leading to increased independence and reduced dependence on unemployment benefits.
- The deposit money collected is used to support various causes, such as providing employment and housing, as demonstrated by Georgi's family's improved living conditions.
- In addition to finance, the project supports the Rotary project "Lid against Polio", with funds raised from collected water bottle lids helping to provide vaccinations for children.
- The project's success is not limited to financial gains, as participants find their jobs fulfilling and express gratitude for the supportive environment, like Georgi did when sharing his hardships in Bulgaria and Portugal.
- The project goes beyond recycling, serving as a model for community collaboration that generates meaningful change, as Klaus, a deposit commissioner, emphasizes.
