Environmental education can be fun, interactive, and highly effective. This is demonstrated by the long-standing cooperation between NATUR-PACK, the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), and the Deposit Return System Administrator (Slovensko zálohuje). For several years, we have been jointly delivering experiential educational programmes for children and the general public, introducing proper waste sorting, beverage packaging deposit return, and the importance of recycling through engaging, hands-on activities.
Our cooperation began with the Collection Yard (Zberný dvor) programme, whose first version was created in 2019 at the initiative of Slovak singer and writer Braňo Jobus. The Deposit Return System Administrator joined the programme shortly after the launch of Slovakia's deposit return system for beverage packaging. Since then, the Collection Yard programme has evolved through several editions and, in addition to touring Slovak towns and cities, has been presented at festivals such as Atmosféra (2023), Huncútko (2024 and 2025), and in a special festival edition at this year's Pohoda Festival.
Alongside this programme, we have continuously developed new outdoor and indoor experiential activities for festivals and, subsequently, for events organised by our partner municipalities. Together, these activities complement one another and create a comprehensive environmental education concept.
In 2026, at the Vrbovské vetry Festival, we introduced an updated version of the Waste Maze, the well-established Recycling Circles, and the Recycling Station, complemented by a new printed activity booklet for young festival participants.
Hands-on experience, the opportunity to practise proper waste sorting, and active participation are among the most effective ways to foster a positive attitude towards environmental protection among children. Feedback from participants consistently confirms that this approach to education is meaningful and capable of changing habits and perceptions of waste—not as a problem, but as a valuable source of secondary raw materials.
The shared goal of NATUR-PACK and the Deposit Return System Administrator remains to deliver high-quality environmental education where it can have the greatest impact—among children, schools, families, and visitors to cultural events. We will therefore continue expanding our experiential education activities at festivals and municipal events across Slovakia.
