The Baa-ttery Campaign is gaining momentum as primary schools across Cumbria race to ‘save batteries from the bin’. Launched in March with a sheep as its playful mascot, the campaign seeks to address a pressing environmental issue: each year, an astounding 3.2 million batteries are thrown away in Cumbria, equivalent to the weight of more than 3,650 Herdwick sheep!

To drive awareness and participation, a competition has been launched encouraging children to “herd” their used batteries into Cumbrian schools. Six exciting prizes are up for grabs, including two £300 book tokens, two £200 book tokens, and two £100 book tokens, generously donated by Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils. Schools in both council areas will compete for the top three spots, with the deadline to collect the most batteries set for Christmas.

Why recycling batteries matters

Improperly disposing of batteries in household waste or recycling bins can be hazardous. When damaged during transportation or treatment, batteries can ignite or even explode, causing fires and posing significant safety risks. The Baa-ttery Recycling Competition levels the playing field for schools as winners will be determined based on the number of batteries collected per child, ensuring that even smaller schools have a fair chance at victory.

Local leaders and schools join forces

Hayley Slack, Community Education Liaison Officer at Renewi, reflected on the campaign's success so far, stating: “The response has been incredible, with children across Cumbria actively participating in recycling efforts. It’s amazing to see how passionate they are about protecting the environment.”

Local leaders have also shown strong support for the Baa-ttery Campaign, Councillor Giles Archibald, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, commented “As a council, we are committed to reducing waste and protecting our environment. A staggering amount of batteries are thrown away each year and this battery recycling campaign encourages a simple yet powerful step everyone can take to help make a difference. From households to schools, we all have a role to play in keeping batteries out of our bins and waste treatment facilities."

Stramongate Primary School has emerged as a proud supporter of the campaign by encouraging its students to bring used batteries to school for responsible recycling, instead of disposing them in the bin.

The hidden dangers of everyday batteries

Batteries are found in countless household items, from toys and phones to electronic devices and vapes. Renewi, which operates two Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facilities in partnership with local councils, processes over 110,000 tonnes of residual household waste each year—serving 225,000 households across Cumbria. By diverting waste from landfills, the company helps convert material into energy however, battery-related fires remain a growing concern.

Nick Blake, Contract Director at Renewi, highlighted the issue: “We've seen a troubling increase in fires at our MBT facilities due to batteries being disposed of in household bins. Lithium batteries, especially in disposable vapes, pose a particular danger, causing explosive reactions during the waste treatment process and putting our teams and facilities at risk.”

Raising awareness with free battery collection boxes

To tackle the problem head-on, Renewi UK Services Limited has partnered with Valpak Limited to supply free battery collection boxes to every primary school in Cumbria. These "baa-ttery boxes" make it easy for students to bring in their used batteries for safe recycling. Once a box is full, schools can simply call the number on the box for a free collection and a replacement box.

Hayley Slack continued: “People often don’t realise the dangers of throwing batteries in the bin or that they should be recycled. The Baa-ttery Campaign’s mascot makes recycling fun and engaging for children. Businesses and organisations across Cumbria can also join the initiative by ordering a free ‘baa-ttery box’ from recycle-more.co.uk.”

Looking ahead

The campaign is already expanding, with plans to bring battery recycling to even more locations across Cumbria. Hayley Slack shared another exciting milestone: “I’m thrilled to announce that the Baa-ttery Campaign recently won the ‘Most Innovative Waste Management Solution’ award at the UK Business Awards and has been shortlisted for further national recognition.”

By shining a spotlight on the importance of battery recycling, Renewi UK Services Limited aims to increase the number of recycling points across the region and make it easier for everyone to recycle their household batteries, ultimately reducing the environmental impact of battery waste.

Find out more about the Baa-ttery Campaign https://www.recycle-more.co.uk/recycling-resources-for-kids/baa-ttery-campaign