Local school is ‘third best battery collector’

Schools across Powys have collected over three tonnes of household batteries after taking part in a battery recycling challenge.

The competition was open to all primary schools within the county and encouraged pupils to collect used batteries and bring them into school to be recycled. Between December 2023 and July 2024, the 48 participating schools collected a staggering number of batteries between them.

With an impressive 6.03kg of batteries per pupil, Radnor Valley County Primary School came out on top and are now the worthy recipients of a £300 Amazon voucher.

Second place went to Ysgol Dôlafon in Llanwrtyd Wells who will receive a £150 Amazon voucher after collecting 4.04kg of batteries per pupil. Ysgol Meifod will receive a £50 Amazon voucher for finishing third after collecting 2.02kg of batteries per pupil.

The competition was sponsored by the European Recycling Platform (ERP UK), the council’s compliance scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment and batteries, who kindly donated the Amazon vouchers to the winning schools.

Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys thanked all the schools who took part in the challenge.

“Children are often real advocates for recycling, and it is heartening to see so many Powys pupils show such enthusiasm and commitment to this competition,” she said. “Their willingness to collect batteries for recycling gives us hope that the future of our local environment is in the safe hands of the next generation.”