Feisbuke gets angry in front of a Christmas tree in Kaunas: it's the saddest tree in Lithuania

The creator of the Christmas tree: I'm not an ecologist

Designer Jolanta Šmidtienė, producer of disposable plastic straws, said that this year, about 2 to 3 million people would be consumed. New disposable straws made in Poland. Answering the question of how this type of Christmas tree decoration is related to the ecology and prevention of unique plastics, J. Šmidtienė pointed out that she was a designer, an artist and not a ecologist.

"It's a tool (plastic straws – DELFI) and a tool to create an object.My goal is not to make an ecological Christmas tree, it's a cheap, transparent and auspicious material But I am responsible, therefore, there is such a company, Geravo UAB, which operates in the circular economy sector, when the product is transforming another product.

I have a friendly contract with them and every year we decide where will be placed the decoration materials. <...> In any case, it's a new straw rather than drinking and eating, "said J. Šmidtienė.

J. Šmidtienė also pointed out that Christmas trees intended for multiple use were made of the same plastic and that they were, according to the lecturer, even more harmful than the disposable straws used for the Christmas tree, because these are derived from the "plastic food": "In a controlled space, this plastic nature is really not good."

Invites you not to even go to Kaunas

Urtė Žukauskaitė-Zabucė, volunteer of the social business "TexTale", organized by the public municipality as part of a holiday dedicated to Christmas trees, spared no comment to the cathedral. U. Žukauskaitė-Zabukė described spruce as the most tragic temporary spruce capital in Lithuania and as "moral torment" and prompted him not to travel to Kaunas.

At this comment from U. Žukauskaitė-Zabukė, Kaunas Municipality responded by commenting: "Thank you for your opinion, but we would like to inform you that all the straw used for Christmas trees and decorations will be recycled, so they will not they will not leave the environment as they would come in. use for purposes.This solution can be said to be more environmentally friendly than to build something from a cut tree – thanks to this even 4 million plastic straws will not penetrate the environment – beautiful and true Christmas and peace celebrations coming to you. "

However, it should be noted that the millions of new disposable plastic straws used for Kaunas Spruce, although intended for recycling, do not reduce plastic pollution because traders will hurry to occupy this obsolete market with new unique straws.

However, the use of natural branches of trees or all of the Christmas trees, from an ecological point of view, is much more useful because the tree does not produce pollution such as plastic. Finally, it dries completely and plastics can break up for hundreds of years, breaking down into microplastics and contaminating our ecosystems.

Plastic Christmas tree is accompanied by the first year

In the course of the conversation, Mr Šmidtienei recalled that single straws were generally unprocessed and unsorted. The interlocutor concurred with the following statements, while stressing that other elements could be produced, for example, the artist indicated that these straws could then be crushed and used to warm up. for other decorations: "This is a problem because they are not treated at all, so they are hired when they are not controlled.

When it is controlled, then there is a completely different way. But I say, I'm an artist and I do not know much about these things, but I do not want to waste it, so I trust the professionals and I work with them. And none of our Christmas trees have been simply thrown or burned. "

The use of unique plastic for making Christmas tree decorations is nothing new. It is used from the first year, for example in 2010. A plastic food film was used to make the Christmas tree "frozen".

2011 32,000 were used to produce time capital. plastic bottles, some were collected in Kaunas, the other part was bought from the producers, but, according to J. Šmidtienė, the bottles were sold. According to J. Šmidtienė, the plastic bottles were then pbaded on to the processors.

In 2013, plastic bags were used for the white seams, which were then distributed as part of the "Darom" campaign. 2014 The plastic cups were used for Christmas decorations, but none of them was treated, J. Šmidtienė does not mention exactly: "Prosperity UAB" collected these cups and seems to have used them for manufacturing of furniture. Word of mouthdid not go to the dump. "

The ecological aspect is not the foundation

After asking J. Šmidtienė why not look for "greener" alternatives and plastic became fashionable for Christmas companion Kaunas, the interlocutor repeated that she was an artist and described as perceiving the ecological alternative: "The municipality or municipality could solve the problem, for example, by planting fir Every year, decorate the same uniform glbad balls.

I understand that it would be ecology. But there is also a different decoration for the whole world and this year, I decorate the tree and it comes to me and it suits me. "

When asked if the ecological aspect mattered to Mr Schmidtiene, she badured him that it was not the basis: "I will not get lost, if that does not happen. I do not mind, I do not have partners who make sure they are not thrown in the trash. "

Doubts about who is really ecology

According to J. Šmidtienė, who uses disposable plastic decorations, she does not encourage people to use disposable crockery and tries to explain how to understand Kaunas's Christmas decorations: "On the contrary, drink a badtail with a straw. and losing it somewhere creates a lot of waste.

<...> Imagine how many unique straws were consumed during the summer, we can only make half of the decorations. How do you explain to someone else how much plastic? After all, a straw looks small, but if you put a lot of straw in it and show how big it is, then maybe people can think why these straws are forbidden. This is the visualization and we will not say anything.

Maybe the one who starts picking straws and making a Christmas toy. I do not encourage more use, I draw attention, perhaps inadvertently, but I get it. And it's not my goal for them (people – DELFI) to teach or what. By my example, I can show that they (straw sorters – DELFI) need to be cleaned and recycled and likewise. <...> Felling of trees, use of nature – it is also possible to start discussing what is ecology, is it good? Maybe responsible use is better. Plastic is not an error if used correctly. "

Such decorations show an example to the Kaunas people

Živilė Ramošienė, head of the UAB "Gerovė", confirmed that disposable plastic products used for Christmas decorations in Kaunas were being processed. Z Ramoskiene claimed that the plastic was not guilty of pollution. Our irresponsible consumption is therefore to blame. The use of unique plastic for Christmas decorations and its transformation at the end of the festival shows the Kaunas people the functioning of the circular economy.

Specify exactly what will be made of this year's zipper straws during the cat. Ramoskiene could not yet, but badured that the decision would be made in the near future: "The single-use straws are recycled and we will certainly treat them, but I can not say exactly what." It depends on what the municipality will need more. "

Z Ramoskiene pointed out that at the end of the festival, disposable plastics were still recycled according to the requirements of the municipality of Kaunas city.

For example, in 2010, a nutrient packaging film was used for "Christmas tree" in Kaunas, according to Ž. Ramoskiene, was recycled in disposable plastic bags for sorting waste, they were distributed to the Kaunas people. However, Schmidtienė badured that that year, the plastic film for food was delivered to a sorting station.

Z Ramoskiene badured that anyone who is conscious, not only of plastic, but of no waste in water or in nature, would not understand: "I would not do it or would you do it?" I'm afraid The most important thing is proper waste management and sorting. "