During the European Week for Waste Reduction 2025 , Tallinn  Kullatera Kindergarten will continue its ongoing reuse initiative “Your Old is My New” by organizing a Toy Swap Week, focusing especially on electronic toys and small devices.
Children, parents, staff and community members will be invited to bring toys they no longer use and exchange them for others, promoting the reuse of electronic and non-electronic items instead of buying new ones.

The activity aims to reduce waste generation and raise awareness about the environmental impact of electronic waste. In addition to the toy exchange, the kindergarten participates in the national Green Hunt (Rohejaht) campaign, where broken and outdated electronic equipment is collected for proper recycling. The greenhouse, which serves as a community reuse space, will host the exchange point throughout the week. Informational materials and discussions with children will accompany the activity, highlighting the importance of responsible consumption, repair and reuse.

Background

The “Your Old is My New” initiative began in 2024 as part of the project “Small Green Steps Towards Big Changes”, created to increase environmental awareness and promote circular economy principles in the kindergarten community.
An exchange point was established in the kindergarten’s greenhouse, open to children, parents, staff, and local residents. The space enables participants to bring in used clothes, shoes, books, and toys, and take others in return — all free of charge.

Project has strong interest from families and the local community. Through this initiative, Kullatera Kindergarten addresses the challenge of overconsumption and waste generation by encouraging mindful resource use and promoting lasting behavior change. By engaging children at an early age, the project fosters values of sustainability, empathy, and creativity — nurturing a generation that sees waste as a resource rather than rubbish.

By keeping clothes, toys, and electronic items in circulation, the “Your Old is My New” exchange point directly supports the EWWR 2025 theme of reducing electronic waste, demonstrating how simple, community-driven actions can lead to meaningful environmental impact.