The global environmental problems we face today are mainly the result of human overexploitation of natural resources, including (fossil) fuels, minerals, water, and biodiversity. It is becoming clear that the prevailing European model of economic development — based on high levels of using resources, waste generation and pollution — is not long term sustainable. Many resources are only used for a short period of time or are lost to the economy after disposal or due to recovery after recycling. The quality of the environment is crucial for our health, economy, and well-being. But it faces difficult challenges, not only climate change, unsustainable consumption, and production, but also various forms of pollution. Proper waste disposal is one of the key environmental topics that works to mitigate climate change. Recycling contributes to preserving the value of natural resources, saves energy, protects the environment, and reduces the accumulation of waste in landfills. If you introduce young people to the methods of recycling and repurposing objects, they will continue to use it in the future. "Save, clean, reuse - let it start from me" is a project that connected ecology and inclusion. The project was based on the exchange of youngsters from Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project involved young people aged 15-25. It should be noted that young people with fewer opportunities were involved, which applied to young people from alternative care, but also to young people with disabilities and young people with behavioral disorders, but also to young people with previous active involvement in social initiatives. We were also motivated to launch the project by the issue of three current ecological problems in our county. The political upheavals continue, which are trying to enable the cities and municipalities of Varaždin County to waste disposal at the "Ivanec" landfill in Jerovec. The landfill is already loaded, and the residents of Jerovec and nearby settlements are continuously complaining about the unbearable stench and pollution of the surrounding areas. According to this, the problem is not only a political one, but also a problem for all citizens of the wider area of the town of Ivanec. The next issue is the issue of water in Ivanec. The new Law on Water Services envisages the annexation of Ivanec company Ivkom d.o.o. to the Varaždin company Varkom d.d., whereby Varkom would take over the management of Ivanec's springs. As the citizens of the town of Ivanec are especially proud of "their" water and water supply system that individuals built with their own hands, they do not agree with the decision made, and 10,000 citizens signed a petition against the annexation. The third environmental problem is the potential opening of a quarry in the immediate vicinity of Ivanečka Željeznica. It is still a place of untouched nature with many family houses, cottages and houses for rent. With the opening of a quarry in the heart of the Natura 2000 ecological area, the initiative to make Ivanščica a nature park would be at least threatened. It is important to mention that Ivanščica is an area of significant biodiversity and that in the place where the quarry should be opened, a population of the Transylvanian monk locust, which was thought to be an extinct species, was discovered. Due to all of the above, the residents of the wider area of the town of Ivanec strongly advocate for the preservation of the nature of their area. Also, through the newly founded ecological association and in cooperation with other associations from the area of the town of Ivanec, they are trying to rise awarweness of existing problems among the local population. The main goal of the project was to increase the ecological and responsible behavior of the participants, i.e. to "encourage young people to understand their country as a house that needs to be taken care of", to encourage positive attitudes towards nature, to build a positive attitude towards themselves and their abilities. The main topics of the project were: raising awareness about ecology, sharing the experience of partner countries dealing with the problem of recycling and pollution, teaching new skills to young people with fewer opportunities, encouraging active citizenship, accepting and overcoming challenges, realizing one's own capacities, strengthening self-esteem and self-confidence. The project "Keep, clean, reuse - let it start from me" was a youth exchange project, that included marginalized youth, youth with fewer opportunities, and aimed to strengthen the quality of work with young people and informal learning for young people in Europe. The project included informal learning on the topic of ecology and the acquisition of responsible behavior by exchange participants so that they become active citizens, but also acquire competencies that will be useful in their lives and in their future work.