Schools in Laois recycled thousands of used batteries last year
Students across Ireland saved the equivalent of 1.5 million AA batteries in total from landfill last school year - the weight of close to four school buses.
ACCORDING to WEEE Ireland, schools across Laois recycled thousands of used batteries during the last school year.
A total of seven schools in Laois took part in WEEE Ireland’s Schools Battery Recycling Competition.
Between them they collected the equivalent of 12,800 used AA batteries which preventing valuable materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel from being lost to landfill and showed how local students, families and teachers can make a real difference.
In total, students in Ireland recycled the equivalent of 1.5 million AA batteries last school year - the weight of nearly four school buses.
This year’s campaign launches as new EU Batteries Regulation come into full effect, bringing higher waste battery collection, recycling and recovery targets.
WEEE Ireland is again calling on schools, families, and communities in Laois to get involved in its annual Schools Battery Recycling Competition and help Ireland meet these ambitious goals - while supporting environmental protection and the programme’s charity partner LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.
The competition is open to all primary and secondary schools in WEEE Ireland’s battery recycling counties that collect at least 10 full 5kg battery boxes.
Elizabeth O’Reilly from WEE Ireland said: “The new EU Batteries Regulation raise the bar for all of us, and It’s fantastic to see so many schools in Laois are stepping up to meet the challenge.
“The incredible efforts of students, teachers, families and local communities in Laois help ensure we meet the minimum recovery targets for materials like cobalt, copper, lead, lithium, and nickel. This allows these materials to be recaptured for use again in manufacturing, as part of a more sustainable and circular battery economy.”
Winning schools from the last school year were each awarded a €2,000 sports voucher for their efforts.
CEO of LauraLynn Kerry McLaverty said: “The funds we have received from WEEE Ireland as a result of battery recycling programme over the last 14 years of this partnership have had such a positive impact on the children and families who avail of LauraLynn's specialised care and supports all across Ireland.”
Schools can find more information and order WEEE Ireland Blue Battery Boxes by logging onto www.weeeireland.ie.
