Old batteries bring top prizes for Lancashire's Primary School Pupils

GREEN-minded school children, from twelve of Lancashire's Primary Schools, have scooped the top prize for their recycling efforts.

Lancashire County Council introduced a battery recycling scheme in 2004 offering Primary schools collection points for used batteries. It has proved to be a great success and has expanded over the years. This year 360 schools across the county took part in the 'Tune into Battery Recycling' scheme which has helped to divert more than 19 tonnes of used batteries from landfill. That's the equivalent of about 630,000 batteries.

The school rankings were calculated by dividing the total tonnage of batteries collected by the number of pupils in the school. This ensured that the success of the pupils, rather than the size of the school, was rewarded.

Valpak Limited donated the prizes to the top three performing schools in each district area. The top recyclers received laptop computers, and second and third places won £200 and £100 worth of sports equipment vouchers. Lancashire County Councillor, Mike France, alongside Damian Perkins from Valpak's Materials Recovery Facility based in Preston, presented the winning schools with their laptops at a special event at the Woodlands Conference Centre on 16th July.

Valpak were especially keen to support local schools and the local community, due to the location of their Materials Recycling Facility, otherwise know as Valpak Recycling North West.

Lancashire County Councillor Mike France, lead member for communities and partnerships, said:

"The county council has been working hard to encourage more recycling of used household batteries. All the schools taking part in this scheme deserve to be praised for their recycling efforts and I would especially like to congratulate the winners from each district."

Duncan Simpson, Valpak's Director of Sales and Marketing, said:

"Valpak is delighted to support Lancashire County Council's Tune into Battery Recycling scheme. Under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations, Valpak are providing battery recycling services to help the UK to increase battery recycling levels from the current 3% to 45% by 2016. Therefore, we feel that this campaign is helping to raise awareness of the importance of recycling waste batteries and is helping us to reach this target."

"This scheme has let school children and their parents know that batteries can be recycled. We can all make a difference and increase the amount batteries that are diverted from landfill. This initiative will increase recycling knowledge as well as having a positive impact on the environment."

If you would like to find out more about Valpak's battery recycling services or the Lancashire's battery recycling scheme please call 08450 682 572 or email info@valpak.co.uk.