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Kiti Põld, Volunteer of the Year 2023 and author of the book “Our reuse. There is no such thing as a bin”.
My work as a volunteer has taken place in the Viljandi shop of the Recycling Centre (Uuskasutuskeskus). I’ve been a volunteer for a couple of years now and the experience has enriched my life more than I could have imagined.
The most special thing is knowing that my work contributes to something bigger. Every item I give a new life to a certain thing I feel pleased that it doesn’t end up in a landfill. Instead, it finds a new home and meaning in someone else’s life. For me, recycling isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a practical way to make the world a better place. I feel that every time I step into a shop and contribute my time, I am helping to promote the circular economy and the resource-efficient lifestyle that is one of the themes close to my heart. I help out in the shop 2-4 hours a week, all year round.
Volunteering is much more than plain physical tasks. It’s about meeting people who share the same passion for recycling and caring for the environment. I’ve learned so much through different donations and stories. The items that are brought in for donation and prepared for sale are from different eras, in different styles and with their own quirks. Being a part of it all, it’s like I’m also learning more about humanity: what was used, what was worn, what items were preferred. These moments teach me to respect people’s creativity and the value of things.
Volunteering is also a way to feel part of a community. It’s good to be part of a team of women in a shop who are involved every day in saving the environment and valuing objects. And when I see customers delighted with their finds, or I can help someone directly with a specific issue, I know my contribution counts. The feeling that I am doing something good and meaningful gives me energy and motivation to keep going and to keep donating my time to the scheme. The days of unpacking donation bags, cleaning items and putting them on shelves are filled with small joys and moments of satisfaction.
Being a volunteer is a privilege. A chance to make a difference, to grow as a person and to give back to the world with a piece of goodness. With a large recycling system and 18 shops, the social enterprise Recycling Centre’s (Uuskasutuskeskus) motto is: The wisdom to give freely, the skill to receive. It has depth. I’m sincerely grateful to be able to put the idea of recycling into practice and hopefully inspire others to make the world a better place.
