Xewkija primary school has won this year’s edition of Wasteserv’s used battery collection competition, more than doubling its collection rate over the previous year to collect 3.481 kg of batteries per capita.
Primary school children tend to collect the most
In 2010, the winning school was St Patrick’s Boys’ school, with a collection of 2.8 kilos per capita.
A prize of €2,000 will be awarded to Xewkija primary to develop renewable forms of energy at the school or to improve its sports or educational facilities.
An analysis of the type of batteries collected in the campaigns of 2010 and 2011 reveals that of the 8,940 kgs collected last year only 35 kgs were rechargeable batteries. This year, 260 kgs such batteries were collected out of the total of 7,550 kgs.
Wastserv said the difference in the totals for the two years can be accounted for when one considers that rechargeable batteries are typically used six times over before being discarded. It said this was an encouraging trend that needs to be promoted.
“If a rechargeable battery lasts at least six times longer than an ordinary battery, this would effectively mean we would be disposing of around 80 per cent less of this type of hazardous waste,” a Wasteserv spokesman explained.
A total of 7,550 kilos of batteries were collected by students up to September this year. In 2009, the first time the competition was held, only 5,200 kgs of batteries had been collected.
Throughout the three years of the campaign, a clear correlation between the age of the students and the rate of collection can be seen. Primary school children tend to collect the most, and post-secondary students the least.
Wastserv said there may be various reasons for this. “Our general feedback is that young children are very enthusiastic about this collection, badgering people for spent batteries. We hope the low rate of battery return by the older student population is not symptomatic of an indifference to their environmental responsibilities,” the spokesman said.
The competition’s aim is to raise awareness among young people and the public about the harmful effects that inappropriate disposal of batteries has on the environment.
Batteries contain harmful chemicals including metals such as iron, nickel, cadmium, lithium and zinc and are therefore considered as hazardous waste. Any leakage of their contents into the environment, especially if they leak down to the water table, could cause serious pollution.
For details visit www.wasteservmalta.com/facilities.aspx?id=122.