The **landfills** [are a significant problem](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/capilla-del-monte-crisis-sanitaria-y-ambiental-por-el-basural-a-cielo-abierto/) and a group of young volunteers is making a difference by cleaning them up. The NGO **Accionar Verde** was born in Olavarría three years ago. Through a call, they managed to gather 150 people from different backgrounds but with a **common goal**: to contribute to a better world.
The main activity of the organization is the **cleaning of small dumps**, mostly located in the **tourist areas** of the town or in the **outlying neighborhoods** of the city.
## Call and activities for the environment
“We started to call young people through **talks and workshops** in educational institutions. Thanks to the dissemination, we managed to form an organization of 150 young people from diverse fields but with the same purpose: to move from being spectators to **social actors**,” says Casandra Leissarrague, a member of Accionar Verde and awarded as Youth Flagbearer of 2024.
“Our organization understands that the **environmental crisis** is also an economic and social crisis. Having a free and well-maintained green space near home is essential for family and recreational activities for those who cannot travel to other **tourist and natural places**.”
Accionar Verde has cleaned up 10 open-air landfills in the **Sierras Bayas** area, thanks to the effort of local and surrounding volunteers. Between 2022 and 2024, the organization visited more than 30 educational centers to [raise awareness about socio-environmental issues](https://noticiasambientales.com/compromiso-ambiental/dia-de-la-educacion-ambiental-la-iniciativa-de-reciclaje-de-aceite-que-capacito-a-casi-5000-chicos/). Furthermore, they promoted dialogues aimed at young agents of change to encourage them to participate in **community activities**.
“The landfills are the result of **rampant consumerism**, they reflect a polluting and developmentalist system. They attract dangerous species for people who live in or visit nearby areas. The small dumps affect the **local fauna and flora**, contaminating the **Pampas ecosystem**. They are the consequence of the meager municipal budget to address socio-environmental issues and the lack of community awareness,” concludes Leissarrague.
## Goal of raising awareness
The organization’s work is territorial, and during the **neighborhood clean-ups**, they take the opportunity to **raise awareness among the residents** about the problem. They also carry out awareness activities in homes and institutions.
Accionar Verde aims to **start workshops in schools**, not only with young people but also with adults, and carry out more landfill clean-ups to achieve **positive impacts** in the communities. The goal is not only to look towards the future but also to focus on the present.
*Cover Photo: Accionar Verde*
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