Recycling Challenge Collects 1.73 Tonnes of Batteries

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The battery recycling challenge conducted for school students across Powys reported total collection of over 1.7 tonnes of household batteries. The free battery recycling competition organized by the Powys City Council saw participation from over 4,000 school children.

The Llanbedr Church in Wales School, near Crickhowell was announced as the winner of the Challenge for collecting the most quantity of batteries. The total collection by the school averaged at 4.77 kilogram per student. The winners will be awarded £300 worth of Amazon vouchers. In second place was Brecon’s Ysgol Penmaes, which collected 3.59kg of batteries per student. The school will receive £150 of Amazon vouchers. The third place went to Newbridge-on Wye Church in Wales School, whose collections totaled 2.05 kilogram per student. They will be awarded £50 worth of Amazon vouchers, the City Council press release said.

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The competition was sponsored by the European Recycling Platform (ERP). The schools that were signed up for the competition were provided with a free battery box and were urged to collect as many domestic batteries as possible over the autumn term. The allowed batteries for collection included the standard AA and AAA nickel cadmium batteries, button cell batteries, power packs from tools and mobile phone and laptop batteries.

Councilor Phyl Davies thanked all the schools that participated in the competition. Each battery collected during the Challenge will be re-melted and used to make new batteries. The event supported County’s efforts to meet recycling targets. In addition, it also has helped to avoid environmental pollution by allowing then to end up in landfills. The harmful metals present in batteries including lead, cadmium and mercury could pollute water and soil, if not disposed properly, he added.