Books in exchange for plastic bottles and cans

In Polla, Campania, Michele Gentile offers books to those who dispose of waste properly. The project is called Non Rifiutiamoci (Let's Not Refuse).

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books in exchange for waste

BOOKS IN EXCHANGE FOR WASTE

A book in exchange for a plastic bottle or an aluminum can : it's happening in Polla , in the province of Salerno, where Michele Gentile , 55, owner of the “ Ex Libris Cafè ” bookshop, has launched this curious initiative to encourage reading and raise awareness among citizens and tourists about the importance of correct waste disposal.

An interesting project, aimed primarily at schools , started in 2016 with aluminum cans only and has now been expanded to include plastic. It was the children's enthusiasm that convinced Michele he was on the right track: large quantities of plastic and aluminum waste have already been handed in by various classes.

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LET'S NOT REFUSE, THE INITIATIVE OF THE EX LIBRIS CAFÈ BOOKSTORE IN POLLA

Michele, a passionate bookseller, says: " Non Rifiutiamoci " —the name of the project—is just one of many initiatives he's launched over the years to bring readers back to bookstores. In 2002, in the wake of the Neapolitan suspended coffee, the " suspended book " was invented: each customer could choose whether to pay for another book to be donated to those who couldn't afford it. The chosen book would then end up on a special shelf, available to readers in financial difficulty. Since then, more than 10 books have been left on hold: texts that are now the focus of the "Non Rifiutiamoci" project.

Another important initiative was the "Journeys with the Author" on the Rome-Salerno route: travelers and commuters had the opportunity to while away the hours attending an author's book presentation and receiving a free copy. Approximately 32 trips were organized , initiatives that earned the Municipality of Polla the title of "City of the Book . "

Michele directly handles the disposal of plastic and aluminum waste by delivering it to a collection point. All proceeds are then invested in the purchase of new books.

The initiative is also enjoying considerable success in neighboring municipalities, so much so that some mayors have asked for it to be extended to their schools as well.

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MICHELE GENTILE EX LIBRIS CAFÈ DI POLLA

An eco-friendly bookseller and a " book tramp ," as Michele describes himself in an interview with Repubblica, since he "begs for books from everywhere" and then makes them available to others. Anyone can donate a new or used book to Michele's "Ex Libris Cafè" bookshop and have it donated to a juvenile detention center or school library.

The goal for the future is to ensure that the initiative spreads everywhere, involving as many different points of sale as possible , following the example of the system launched in many Italian supermarkets where, through dedicated recyclers, in exchange for plastic and aluminum waste, it is possible to obtain bonuses and discounts on shopping . This project could also involve newsstands and publishers , for example, to provide a free newspaper to those who deliver plastic or aluminum.

These projects are crucial to encouraging reading in a country where, according to the latest ISTAT data, the number of non-readers is on the rise . They also promote a "culture of recycling ," raising awareness of the benefits of reusing materials, ultimately fostering a "grassroots revolution." For this to happen, however, it is essential that citizens be able to recycle properly, and therefore have the appropriate tools and systems.

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( The images are taken from the Facebook pages of the “ Ex Libris Cafè ” bookshop and the “ Non Rifiutiamoci ” project. In the cover image: Michele Gentile. Source: La Repubblica)

INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE READING:

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