Students divert 14,868 pounds of batteries from the landfill

Greater Nipissing Stewardship Council
News Release

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Congratulations are extended to St. Joseph – Scollard Hall of North Bay and F. J. McElligott Secondary School of Mattawa for winning our Ninth Annual Used Battery Collection Competition.

By collecting an incredible 4,628 pounds of batteries St. Joseph – Scollard Hall won $400 for collecting the most batteries. With just 125 students collecting 1,562 pounds of batteries, F. J. McElligott Secondary School won $400 for collecting the most batteries per student.

Some 4,872 students from eleven area high schools collected 14,868 pounds (6,744 kilograms) of batteries. This is practically equal to what was collected last year. It is well over seven tons of batteries and is equivalent to about 347,911 AA size batteries.

While the battery collection competition diverts thousands of batteries from the landfill sites, the primary purpose of the competition is to raise the awareness about the proper disposal of hazardous waste. In North Bay, batteries and other hazardous waste should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 112 Patton Street.

Over the past nine years, local high school students have collected 76,057 pounds (34,934 kilograms) of used household batteries.

Nipissing Environmental Watch and the Greater Nipissing Stewardship Council would like to thank the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for generously funding this competition.

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