This English language publication tries to give a sample and an overview of the past 6 years of 'Kukabuvar' � literally 'Wastebin -Diver'. We hope it will show the different faces of our group, and how we see the solutions to waste related problems.

The KukaBúvár (Wastebin-Diver) had 6 volumes and 18 editions. Local governments, professional bodies, decision-makers, schools and universities receive the magazine. As the name shows, the features are about waste management - articles, studies, analyses, standpoints and research, and emotional approaches are also published in it. We are trying to share the principles and methods of environmental education, and show examples of positive living-standards. We are trying to be fresh � not only in the content, but also in the wording of articles, to speak about the most serious waste management and consumer-rights cases in an entertaining form.

First of all, let us introduce ourselves:

The Waste Management Working Group (HuMuSz) is an alliance of 18 Hungarian environmental groups. The main purpose of HuMuSz is to educate Hungarian citizens in environmental issues, change their attitudes to waste and consumer issues. We target concrete waste management problems directly and offer solutions too. Through our publications and actions we primarily address the youth, the elementary and secondary schools but we put an emphasis on adult education as well.

Actions

Buy nothing!

One of our campaigns "Squash it flat!" protested against throw-away aluminium cans. Another, the "Transparent action" aimed at saving returnable bottles. Some other actions like "Against PVC", "School canteen", and "Prepare presents and packaging on your own!" encourage by their message environmentally friendly activity.

• Buy Nothing Day: We joined the international movement of Buy Nothing Day. We surprised the pedestrians at one of the busiest spots in Budapest by setting up a street theatre and distributing pills to heal the consumer hysteria. Our objective was to direct the attention of people towards problems caused by consumer society.

• Save the Christmas trees!: We hired some Christmas trees (in pots) from a gardener and distributed them among people on deposit. If the tree was returned after Christmas, we gave back most of the deposit. Through this action we tried to make people realize that it is not necessary to cut down millions of pine trees for a celebration, but there are alternatives - our action was one of those. We gave back most of the returned trees to the gardening and planted the rest.

  Returnable trees

• Composting Christmas trees: Thousands of the trees were thrown away in January. We collected and gave many of them to a gardener for composting.

• With a catapult for the environment: We prepared a catapult and threw pieces of throw-away packaging at the building of the Environment Ministry. We were armed to the teeth with waste. We informed representatives of all TV channels that companies with a vested interest in packaging won over the Ministry by the very same way -they rule the legislative and decision making processes by lobbying. (Of course the process started several years ago, the previous governments are also responsible!)

• Database: We collected the addresses of wasteyards of Hungary in order to help selective waste collection of local governments and schools. The database is available on the Internet (http://www.humusz.hu �Wasteyards in Hungary").

• Counselling to public: Our office in Gyõr gives professional help in legislation related questions. Information on selective waste collection, environmental education, wastedumps is available at our office in Budapest.

• Legislation: HuMuSz takes part in law preparation on a professional level. We reported on the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms, presented a Bill on limitation of advertising in schools. At present we are reporting the Bill on waste management.

• Experts' opinions: HuMuSz has published some studies (e.g. "Saving returnable packaging systems" and "Bottling in Hungary - present and future")

• Access to tenders and protection of consumers' rights: Our association pays special attention to coordination of the movement's activities relating to ecological consumers' rights. Our activists have commenced proceedings at the Office for Fair Business Competition (Versenyhivatal) on consumers' rights and have won some of them.

Environmental Education

• Series of lecture
  We contacted schools and educational institutions and offered to visit them and give lectures on waste related topics. Our programs are interactive, we try to involve children as much as possible.
  

  3 choices - which is the best?

• Media
  Our relationship with the media is constantly improving. As a result, more and more forums publish ideas and suggestions from HuMuSz. These publications are addressed to the 'man' in the street and deal with everyday issues of environmental protection.
• WASTEFILM
  HuMuSz has recently put together an educational film with the title WASTEFILM (SZEMÉTegyFILM) in which we deal with several - mainly waste related - problems from a rather unusual slant. The film lasts for 15 minutes, it is humorous and interesting, and tries, using a relaxed and lively style, to raise the viewer's awareness .The collection of clips, which are loosely connected and well prepared, don't use direct explanations but raise plenty of questions and leave them open for further thinking.
  

  Pick-pack Show

• CD-ROM
  A CD-ROM on waste for primary schools is under preparation. The interactive CD deals with real situations and problems through a series of humorous but still thought-provoking games. The attached materials are of a high standard and can be used by teachers, too.
• Exhibition
  The mobile interactive exhibition is a new form of awareness raising and information spreading which was started in October 1999 by a HuMuSz. It is an interesting and colourful program which involves visitors rather than keeps them passive. It approaches the waste-problem in Hungary through the interrelation of adverts-consumption-waste. The exhibition is even more successful than HuMuSz expected.
• Children activities
  We direct many of our activities at children because we believe that the earlier they learn about the environment, the better. HuMuSz activists formed a mobile group which visits nurseries and schools upon request and involves children in playful activities. The activities are planned beforehand to fit the age of the children. They deal with waste related problems and use case materials specially created for this purpose.

OUR PUBLICATIONS

Refillable or disposable

Besides KukaBúvár, we have several other publications. "The secret of E-numbers" is on food additives with a second volume "Is it rEally food?". We have published a booklet with the title "Genetic Manipulation". Two other publications "Dangerous waste in households " and "Little Mushroom is making compost" on composting in gardens were prepared for helping waste management. We printed a leaflet "Wrapped in love" as a part of our actions in the lead up to Christmas.

OUR PLANS

We are planning to establish a country-wide network for giving lectures to all cities where there is an interest. We would like to form a group of experienced lecturers in each region. The lecturers of the group could satisfy all local requests. They will be prepared beforehand and will use case materials (mentioned above) for the lectures.

Our dream: an educational centre

It is very good that more and more educational institutes exist all over the country to disseminate information on the environment and on nature conservation. Usually these institutions work separately from schools but compement the knowledge which is taught in schools. HuMuSz has something similar in mind. Besides several other programmes, it will organize activities which fit the registered school-groups.

In order to make our work more effective, we would like to concentrate our environmental education related activities at one place. This centre will serve different purposes: HuMuSz headquarters, editorial office of KukaBúvár, public counselling office would be located there; that will be the office for the lecturing network, environmental education programs. Our case materials will be prepared there, too.

We will organize numerous activities for children in the centre: lectures for school groups, regular meetings of clubs, playing afternoons and camps on waste related topics. We will have programs for adults: training courses for teachers and lecturers on waste and continuous exhibitions. We will establish an information centre which will give advice to the public personally or over the phone. We will set up a green library (traditional and electronic) for those who are interested in waste issues. We will organize conferences and training courses for all our target groups.

Our environmental education programs will be rounded off by various arts activities; exhibitions, puppet and theatre performances.

HuMuSz believes that it is important to give information in a practical way. We would like to set an example and introduce some waste management techniques near our educational centre where visitors can get hands-on experience which they can take home. The techniques will include a wasteyard, a compost yard, bio-briquet preparation,a market of unnecessary/excess raw materials, and an exhibition and sale of environmental friendly products. We are looking for partners, the place and the sources for all our plans.