Pupils from 45 schools across Caerphilly County Borough have recycled more than a tonne of old batteries.
Caerphilly County Borough Council launched its Schools Battery Recycling Initiative in December last year.
In total 45 schools took part, involving almost 15,000 pupils. Together they have helped collect an impressive 1,255kg of batteries over the last few months.
The top six schools which had collected the most batteries were invited to a special award ceremony at Penallta House Council Offices in Ystrad Mynach recently.
The results were:
1st prize – Crumlin High Level Primary School
2nd runners up : Fochriw Primary School and Llanfabon Infants School
Gold Award – Deri Primary School
Silver Award – Cwmcarn Primary School
Bronze Award – Cwm Glas Infants School
Cllr Dave Poole, cabinet member for community and leisure services, said: “I’d like to thank all the schools for taking part and congratulate the shortlisted group on their efforts in this exciting new scheme. It is particularly important to encourage increased battery recycling because the UK must recycle 45% of all portable batteries sold by 2016.”
European Recycling Platform (ERP) UK Ltd is working in partnership to deliver the scheme in the area.
Scott Butler, managing director of European Recycling Platform, which is working with schools, said : “We are honoured to be working with schools in Caerphilly. Collecting over 1.2 tonnes of batteries for recycling is a fantastic achievement and everybody involved should be very proud of what they have accomplished.”