We set out from the EU's Blue Growth strategy and the Erasmus+ targets in our Youth Exchange (YE) project. Blue Growth is a long-term strategy that supports sustainable growth as a whole in the marine and maritime sectors. Seas and oceans are the driving force of the European economy and have great potential for innovation and growth. Blue Growth is crucial for achieving the goal of the European 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The 'blue' economy means about 5.4 million jobs and generates a gross value added of €500 billion per year. Combating pollution in the sea is therefore a very important and priority issue. Secondly, according to a report published by the World Bank in 2012, the annual solid waste amount of 1.3 billion tons is expected to increase to 2.3 billion tones and the cost of solid waste management from $205 billion to $325 billion by 2025 which is depending on the increase in urban population. Major recyclable materials are all types of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textile and electronics. Recycling waste, using sustainable energy sources, living in harmony with nature can reduce the effects of many problems that we feel even more intensively in the next years. Only 60% of the 32 million tons a year of urban solid waste is disposed of in landfills. Half of urban solid wastes are disposed of in landfills or incineration. However, many of the wastes produced in our environment have the ability to recover. Agreeing and taking inspiration from the spirit of the European Citizenship which means putting beneficial ideas into practice to society, solidarity between people care for the environment. We realized this project as a good environmental practice where it can support development of concrete collective actions with positive impact on the environment. Our project was in line with the 2020 of the Erasmus+ target, which is connected to achieving the European policies on climate and energy towards 2020, 2030 and 2050 and enhancing international integration, promoting the basic the European values of international interaction and encouraging youth workers and young people to take initiative and awareness - raising about environmental and climate - change challenges. Secondly, our YE supports the European Green Deal which aims to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 because we emphasised eliminating pollution, Biodiversity etc. Our YE project; - Promoted active learning introducing various methods of non-formal education; - Helped participants to become more active European citizens, understand their rights and duties for green societal change. - Develop their creativity and sense of entrepreneurship, prepare them to take part in discussions about political and social matters which also broaden their understanding of green matters. - Inspired them to lead the youth by spreading their knowledge and experience. - Participants handled pollution, waste management and environmental protection issues. In order to inspire and empower youth with creative and new skills, project provided new understandings, meanings and uses of waste such as producing natural products (soap, cosmetics) and artistic artifacts out of waste. - This youth exchange offered participants opportunity to learn and discuss about waste and how it is recycled, reused and reduced. Moreover, its innovative ways of thinking water sustainability and environmental protection. - Young people had possibility to experience sustainable living, community building, new ways of youth participation, personal expression and development. All the activities required the creative and active participation of the youth in project. Project aimed: - To identify the most common negative outcomes of people’s habits concerning environment, as well as find ways to tackle that; - To raise awareness of youth about environmental problems in Europe; waste, pollution and their consequences; - To review and try to find ways to solve environmental problems in each country; - To promote healthy life for young people in terms of environmental protection; - To raise awareness about recycling through artistic activities and workshops; - To share ideas how to convert waste materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air and water pollution; - To develop participants' intercultural skills and to give them better understanding of other European countries.