The government of the northern Venezuelan state of Miranda has launched campaign through which schoolchildren are encouraged to donate their used notebooks in order for them to be recycled. "During a test run last we collected 487 kg of paper at one school and 152 kg at another through the collection of these notebooks. Because of these encouraging results, we have now set up collection points in public schools throughout the state,” Evelyn Pallotta, head of the department of the environment in Miranda, told Tierramérica.

“When we recycle used paper we consume a third of the energy needed for its initial production and 100 times less water, which means the contribution made by the students is substantial,” added Pallotta.