By 2012 current EU recycling laws requiring that a quarter of all batteries be recycled. According to Scott Butler from the European Recycling Platform (ERP), it will require everyone getting involved to achieve this goal.
In a three minute film segment, the ERP has created an educational opportunity for teachers across the country to utilise when informing students of the importance of recycling. The video, a response to the 1 January 2010 European directive, follows 12-year old Ollie Osman as he use batteries in his toy car and then takes them to school to be recycled.
The new European Directive states that all battery producers will be legally obligated to pay for their products to be collected and processed. The UK, additionally, will be legally responsible for recycling at least 25 per cent of its batteries by 2012, and a further 45 per cent by 2016. As of 2009, the nation was only recycling two per cent of all batteries.
Batteries contain lead, zinc, mercury, silver and cadmium, all of which are valuable reusable resources. In the film, students will see Ollie’s batteries taken to a recycling centre in France, where the materials are harvested and recycled. Environment Minister Lord Henley said that half of all the toys within the UK require battery operation, because of this he said that offering battery recycling at school was an ideal way to teach children to protect the environment.
Already schools in Kent, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Cornwall, London, Berkshire and Richmond offer battery collection service. It is estimated that a total of 620 million batteries each year are used in UK homes, that averages 24 batteries per person per year. When receiving the film, teachers can also request a free collection box to go along with the hands-on teaching materials. General manager of ERP, Scott Butler said that youngsters are one of the biggest battery consumers in the country.
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