Dublin school wins top prize at WEEE battery recycling competition

Material from equivalent of 2m AA batteries recovered for reuse

Life

Molly Farrelly (age 9), Eve Geoghegan (10), Abigail Craven (9), and Isabelle Khumnariang (10) from Scoil Naomh Padraig, Dublin

A team from Scoil Naomh Pádraig in Ballyroan Dublin have been named winners of the WEEE Ireland’s Schools Battery Recycling Competition.

WEEE Ireland’s Schools Battery Recycling Competition saw a record amount of waste batteries collected from last October to March this year – and their precious materials recovered for re-use.

Schools in Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford were crowned Battery Recycling Champions in the last school year, each receiving €2,000 in sports vouchers to reward their commitment to sustainability.

The equivalent of 2 million used AA batteries has been diverted from landfill and recycled thanks to the nationwide initiative, which also supports LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

The initiative encourages the involvement of teachers, families and wider communities to help students collect as many used batteries as possible.

The competition is open to all primary and secondary schools which collect at least 10 full 5kg battery boxes in WEEE Ireland battery recycling counties.

“Binning batteries is a big problem because the materials lost to landfill are increasingly in short supply,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.

“Plus, the harm to the environment, including animals and plants, can often be severe.

“This really important programme means students can play their part in preventing this. It always gets a great response from them, their teachers and the wider community, and I’d urge more to get on board this year.”

Every battery recycled with WEEE Ireland goes towards a donation fund for LauraLynn, whose CEO, Kerry McLaverty, added: “The funds that we have received from WEEE Ireland as a result of the battery campaign have had such a positive impact on the children and families who avail of LauraLynn’s care and specialised supports all across Ireland.

“Over the last 12 years, the campaign has helped us to raise awareness of our services and our ongoing need for support and donations as Ireland’s only children’s hospice.”

TechCentral Reporters

Read More: Green sustainability WEEE