OSCE’s Community Security Initiative supports waste clean up campaign in Osh, 1.5 tons of plastic collected

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 10 December 2014 - Three schools involved in the “My Clean Town” environmental campaign will be awarded today by the Osh City Mayor, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Agroprom Holding recycling company as part of an campaign to raise the community’s involvement in an environmental clean-up initiative supported by educators and students.

The OSCE Community Security Initiative (CSI) for the first time involved 12 secondary schools within Osh city in the campaign. The aim was to promote environmental awareness and build civic pride among the city’s youth through addressing the need for creating a cleaner and healthier living environment.

Over the course of two weeks more than 1.5 tons of plastic has been collected. Agroprom Holding will ensure that this is transported to Bishkek for processing. All the participating schools will receive money from the recycling company proportional to the quantity of plastic collected, and the funds rewarded will be used to improve educational facilities in these schools.

“This is not a one-time initiative,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. “This activity will create a local community network of concerned citizens and will create environmentally safe areas near the schools. Representatives of the initiative and youth volunteers will pay visits to other schools and universities to assess the need for further clean-up programmes and expand the initiative to other neighbourhoods.”

Abdyrahmanuulu Kutmanaly, Deputy Mayor of Osh, said: “The city of Osh has been cleared of plastic waste - recycled and invested in local schools. It is a great example of how environmental consciousness and community work can benefit all.”

The initiative facilitated bringing the mayor’s office together with business leaders involved in the first recycling effort in Kyrgyzstan. The CSI also funded the recycling bins placed in 12 schools and used for collection.

CSI supports the territorial units of the Interior Ministry, local civil authorities and representatives of the community in co-operating to address concerns and needs through developing a police-public partnership.