Engaging schools is crucial for increased recycling

West Bromwich-based G&P; Batteries has been setting up collections of waste batteries across the UK through local authorities. Several of these collections, including a contract with Lancashire which was nominated for best private-public partnership in the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management, have involved working with schools.

G & P Batteries director Greg Clementson (centre) launching Birmingham's battery amnesty with Cllr Paul Tilsley of Birmingham city council (left) and Will Groves from the Environment Agency as well as Marcus and Amy from Holyhead Primary School in Handsworth.

G&P; Batteries has now joined forces with charity Groundwork to provide trial battery collections across Birmingham, including in primary schools. If the trial is successful a full scheme, to be funded by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, will be rolled out across the West Midlands.

Michael Green, managing director of G&P; Batteries, told letsrecycle.com that for batteries it was crucial to involve young people and the school environment when collecting batteries. But he believes that this system can be used across the board of recyclable material.

“The school schemes we have run have been huge successes and in one area, Somerset, the collection of batteries at schools was actually driven by the children,” he said. “I think this shows that there is a definite interest in schools that can be engaged through these kinds of projects.”

Mr Green said that young people were quick to grasp what the country is trying to achieve in waste and recycling in the UK. And he explained: “If you can get people to grasp the importance of recycling at a young age it will stay for life, it is like learning a foreign language – the easier young begin to learn the easier it is to pick up.”

The Lancashire scheme run by G&P; Batteries actually provides incentives for the collection of batteries, with 20 being given to a school for each full collection tube sent for recycling. Mr Green said that this was a “tremendous” way forward.