Pupils collect more than 3.3 tonnes of batteries

Schoolchildren from Newtown were among hundreds taking part in a battery recycling challenge that saw more than 3.3 tonnes collected.

Powys County Council organised the battery recycling competition which saw over 12,000 schoolchildren take part.

The competition encouraged youngsters to collect batteries for recycling from home and at school. Pupils collected an incredible 3.32 tonnes of domestic batteries between September 2018 and April 2019.

Ysgol Dolafon in Llanwrtyd Wells was this year’s competition winner after collecting an impressive 3.49kg of batteries per pupil. They will now receive £250 worth of Amazon vouchers.

ERP UK, who sponsored the competition, have donated the Amazon vouchers. ERP UK also provided the battery collection boxes and arranged the recycling of the batteries.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling, praised all the schools who took part in the challenge.

“We have estimated that over 132,000 individual batteries have been diverted from landfill thanks to the competition,” said Cllr Davies.

Photo: Cllr Beverley Baynham, Chairman of Powys County Council (far right), presents the vouchers to pupils and teachers at from Ysgol Dolafon after they won the latest school battery recycling competition.