Battery Recyclers Charge To Victory
Pupils across Rhondda Cynon Taf collected 929kgs of used batteries – more than the weight of a small family car or 10 washing machines!
The Council, in partnership with Amgen Cymru and ERP Recycling, launched its Schools’ Battery Recycling Competition in 2014, which aims at making it easier for pupils, staff and parents to recycle their batteries and prevent them from going to landfill.
The scheme, now in its second year, saw 39 Primary and Secondary schools from across the County Borough take part and has proved to be extremely popular, with pupils of all ages ‘fully charged’ with the task in hand – to collect as many used batteries as possible.
The schools collecting the most batteries have won vouchers and the chance to meet the Council’s very-own ‘green’ mascots Rhys Cycle and Battery Girl.
SS Gabriel & Raphael RC Primary Schoolcollected the most used batteries, with Porth Infants School and Parc Primary coming 2nd and 3rd. The three schools won £250, £150, and £100 respectively in vouchers.
The awards were presented byCllr Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture.
Cllr Ann Crimmings said: “I am delighted that so many of our students took part in our Schools’ Battery Recycling Competition. The number of batteries returned to us has been amazing.
“To put it into comparison, a small family car weighs around 929kgs, as do three average-size motorbikes, an average-size touring caravan and TEN average-size front-loading washing machines!
“Each battery that has been recycled will be put to another use, further helping the environment.
“We all have an important part to play in making Rhondda Cynon Taf a cleaner and more environmentally-friendly place to live, to work and to play.
“Our recycling rates for the whole County Borough are extremely encouraging and we now have to build upon this to ensure we are not just recycling those substances which are easy to recycle – and not just recycling at home.
“We can also recycle at school as well as at work, which is why our Schools’ Battery Recycling Competition is so important to us.
“We are committed to doing all we can to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and will continue to invest for the future to ensure we have the schemes, high-quality vehicles and easy-to-use facilities that people rely upon to recycle.
“The Council is committed to making our County Borough a pioneer in recycling and waste management.”
The UK uses more than 620 million household batteries every year – and by recycling batteries, everyone is able to help their environment by combating waste and cutting costs in line with the country’s ambition to recycle 70 per cent of its waste by 2025.
Depositing domestic batteries in landfill is harmful to the environment and to us. As the batteries break down they leak heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the land, causing soil contamination and water pollution.
Most types of batteries can be recycled – all AAA and AA cells, rechargeable batteries, button batteries, as well as mobile phone, laptop and power tool batteries.
For more information about the Council’s battery recycling initiatives call visit the recycling pages
The runners up, who will all receive a certificate for taking part were:
- Ysgol Ty Coch
- Ynyscynon Early Years Centre
- Cymmer Infants School
- Trehopcyn Primary School
- Caradog Primary School
- St Margaret's RC Primary
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tonyrefail
- Cwmdar County Primary School
- Blaengwawr Primary School
- Hafod Primary School
- Darrenlas Primary School
- Ysgol Hen Felin
- Ton Pentre Junior School
- Porth Junior School
- Llanhari Primary School
- Alaw Primary School
- Penrhys Primary School
- Penrhiwceiber Primary School
- Darran Park Primary School
- Williamstown Primary School
- Bodringallt Primary School
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Evan James
- Cwmclydach Primary School
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bronllwyn
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Ynyswen
- Tai Education Centre
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Abercynon
- Aberdare Town Church
- Abercynon Community School
- Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg
- Ton Pentre Infants School
- Penyrenglyn Community Primary School
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Gymraeg Llantrisant
- Hawthorn High School
- Gwauncelyn Primary School
- Treorchy Primary School
- St Michael's RC Primary
